Starmer says police have his full support in tackling rioting 'extremists'

Protests spread to cities across the UK on Saturday days after children were killed at a dance class in Southport, ITV News Reporter Peter Smith has the latest

Sir Keir Starmer has said the police have the government's full support to take action against “extremists” attempting to “sow hate”, as he held emergency talks over the unrest in parts of the UK.

Officers were injured after violent protests erupted across the UK on Saturday following the killing of three young girls in Southport.

Cities in England and Northern Ireland saw clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters, with police forming lines with riot shields to keep groups apart.

Some protests saw bottles thrown, windows smashed and a building was set on fire in Beflast - but not all demonstrations turned violent.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would work with forces to help ensure “consequences, arrests and prosecutions” for those responsible.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says "thuggery has no place on our streets"

She warned people taking part in disorder across England that those breaking the law “will pay the price”, telling them: “Thuggery has no place on the streets.”

Bricks, bottles and a flare were thrown at police while they lined the road in Liverpool, with a chair thrown by demonstrators hitting an officer on the head.

Merseyside Police said a number of officers had been injured as they dealt with serious disorder in the city centre.

Meanwhile, in Hull, windows of a hotel which has been used to house asylum seekers were smashed.

Humberside Police said that three officers were injured during the incident, with eggs and bottles thrown.

Arrests were also made in Bristol and Staffordshire, and dispersal orders were issued in several cities.

Planned demonstrations turned violent in the wake of the stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport on Monday.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused of the attack, but false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

Tensions remain high following the attack, with anti-racism group Hope Not Hate identifying more than 30 protests planned across the UK this weekend “under a broad anti-multiculturalism, anti-Muslim and anti-government agenda”.

In Stoke-on-Trent, bricks were thrown at officers, and in Belfast, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally.

It comes after a night of violence in Sunderland on Friday, where rioters battled police in the streets.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show a fire at a city centre police office and others protesting in front of a mosque.

Ten people have so far been arrested for a range of offences in Sunderland, including violent disorder and burglary, the force added.

Around 200 protesters walked through Manchester city centre on Saturday, with people heard saying: "save our streets."

Police were forced to form a divide between two groups - first, protesters chanting “stop the boats” and “save our kids”, and second, anti-fascist demonstrators.

Scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other in Nottingham’s Market Square with bottles and other items thrown from both sides, and chants of “England until I die” and “Tommy Robinson” were drowned out by boos from the counter-protesters.

On Saturday it was not possible to search “Tommy Robinson” on TikTok, and the social media platform instead showed the message: “This phrase may be associated with behaviour or content that violates our guidelines.”

In Portsmouth, a group of between 200 and 300 protesters, some wearing face coverings, gathered in Guildhall Square. Some carried barriers saying "save our children" and "stop the boats". One man carried a flag with the message "stop mass immigration".

Around 150 people carrying St George’s flags also descended on Leeds city centre, shouting “you’re not English any more” and “paedo Muslims off our street”.

But they were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”.

The two groups were kept about 20 metres apart by barriers with around 20 police officers between.

Meanwhile, police in Northern Ireland said a business has been set on fire in Belfast as disorder continues in the city after anti-immigration protests.

There were speeches and anti-Nazi chanting at the rally, which featured trade union banners and Palestinian flags.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new “national” response to the disorder linking police forces across the country.

It is understood that an ⁠extra 70 prosecutors will be on standby this weekend to charge people who set out to cause violent disorder.

Axel Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, appeared in court on Thursday charged with the murders of three girls in Southport.

He is charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

Rudakubana is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman Mr Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

He was remanded to youth detention accommodation and will next appear in court in October.

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