Southport: Lancs Police help police far-right protest

Those involved in the disorder - believed to include supporters of the racist organisation the  English Defence League - set alight cars belonging to members of the public, threw bricks at the local mosque, damaged a local convenience store, and set wheelie bins on fire.

They also attacked police in the area, with 39 officers having to be taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.

The mob had hijacked an evening of peace in the town following Monday's shocking knife attack on a children's Taylor Swift-themed dance class which has left three young girls dead and several more children and adults critically injured.

Almost 40 police officers were injured in the violence (Image: PA)

Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, have all died following the incident.

Hundreds attended a peaceful vigil in Southport for the victims before the night descended into anarchy.

A statement from North West Ambulance Service said: "We treated 39 patients in total, all of which were police officers.

"27 were taken to hospital and 12 were treated and discharged at scene.”

Earlier hundreds had attended a vigil in the town for the victims of the knife attack (Image: PA)

Merseyside Police said eight officers suffered serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose, and a concussion.

Other officers suffered head injuries, and serious facial injuries, and one was knocked unconscious.

Three police dogs were also injured in the chaos, with two suffering leg injuries from bricks thrown at them, and a third suffered burns to her back leg.

Far-right thugs targeted a mosque in Southport (Image: PA)

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, Alex Goss, said: “Merseyside Police has faced serious violence in Southport and I am so proud to have witnessed off-duty officers (many of whom had not long finished a full shift) parade back on duty to support their colleagues who had displayed such courage whilst under constant and sustained attack.

“I would also like to thank officers from Greater Manchester Police, Cheshire Police, Lancashire Police and North Wales Police who also provided mutual aid and support.

“Sadly, offenders have destroyed garden walls so they could use the bricks to attack our officers and have set cars belonging to the public on fire, and damaged cars parked in the mosque car park.”

Three girls aged six to nine died in the knife attack (Image: PA)

He added: “This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday.”

Merseyside Police urged anyone with information on the disorder or who has video footage of those involved to contact the force.

A 17-year-old boy, living in Banks, Lancashire, and born in Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in custody.

The Muslim Council of Britain says Islamophobic backlash began with a false rumour on the internet which was then stoked by misinformation from a Russian news site, which wrongfully associated the crime with Muslims.

The MCB paid tribute to the three young girls killed in Southport on Monday, before condemning “shocking scenes of far-right rioters running amok outside a mosque”.