Clashes between protesters and police broke out today at demonstrations with anti-immigration and anti-Muslim slogans organized in several cities in Britain. the fiercest were those in Liverpool, North-West England, reported France Press, quoted by BTA.
In Liverpool, demonstrators threw chairs, bricks and other objects at the police, an AFP photographer reported. Local media reported violence in the northern city of Manchester, as well as in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who came to power only a month ago, said there was no justification for the violence and blamed it on the "far right,", Reuters notes.
The prime minister called an emergency video conference meeting with his key ministers today and "confirmed that the government is supporting the police in taking all necessary action to ensure safety on the streets,", his spokesman said.
British authorities said yesterday that police across the country were preparing for riots today and tomorrow, and security at mosques would be increased due to tensions following the killing of three children on Monday in the town of Southport in north-west England.
Several police officers were injured in renewed street violence in British cities today. Police are trying to deal with a fourth day of unrest after three girls were killed in Southport. Riots have erupted in several cities in recent days with hundreds of participants after false information quickly spread on social media that the suspect in the knife attack at a children's dance school in Southport was a radical Muslim migrant, Reuters notes.
Police said the suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Cardiff, Wales, but anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim protests have continued, turning violent and rioting, such as in the northeastern city of Sunderland.
Last night, hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters in the city threw rocks at police in riot gear near a mosque, then overturned cars, set fire to a car and set fire to a police station.
Four injured officers were taken to hospital and 12 people were arrested, Sunderland Chief Inspector Mark Hall told reporters today. "This was not a protest, but unforgivable violence and disorder,", he emphasized.
Police in Liverpool said today that several officers were injured while trying to control a "significant disturbance" in the city center.
Authorities in the eastern city of Hull said four people were arrested and three police officers were injured as they dealt with protests in which they were pelted with bottles.
According to the BBC, at least 30 demonstrations are planned across the UK this weekend, as well as a number of counter-protests by anti-racism organisations.