Riots broke out in the British seaside town of Southport on Tuesday following a brutal gang stabbing attack that left three children dead, allegedly perpetrated by a teenager of immigrant descent.
Merseyside Police Announced A “major incident” was declared after the riot broke out. 39 police officers injuredThree girls were killed and a further 10 injured after violence broke out during protests against the attack at a Taylor Swift children’s dance party in Southport on Monday, leaving 27 people in hospital.
Police said officers suffered broken bones, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and a concussion during the unrest outside a local mosque, where people set police vehicles and squad cars on fire and threw bricks, bottles and other improvised weapons.
This is very very very ugly pic.twitter.com/9wYwZf7Pc1
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) July 30, 2024
As a result, Merseyside Police implemented a 24-hour Section 60 order giving officers the right to stop and search anyone in the area without having to give a reason.
Police have also enacted Section 34 Orders, which give officers “the power to seize any items, including vehicles, used in the commission of anti-social behaviour” and allow police to arrest people who return to the area after being told to leave.
according to According to the local Liverpool Echo newspaper, police believe the riots were instigated by the English Defence League (EDL), a group that disbanded nearly a decade ago and whose founder Tommy Robinson fled the country before this week’s attacks. Many traditional media outlets and politicians have described Tuesday’s protests as “far-right”.
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 30, 2024: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after unrest erupts on July 30, 2024 in Southport, England. (Photo: Getty Images)
Southport, England – July 30th (Photo: Getty Images)
Leading the condemnation was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to bring “the full force of the law” to bear on those involved in the riots.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the outbreak of violence as an “utter disgrace”. To tell“It is absolutely frightening to see these same police forces now facing violence from street thugs who have zero respect for a grieving community.”
However, some were quick to notice a difference in the Home Secretary’s tone after the Southport riots and that of the Roma riots in Leeds just five days earlier, when the Home Secretary referred to the rioters simply as “individuals” rather than “thugs”. Former government minister Lord Goldsmith said that while he was right to take a tough stance against the unrest, Cooper’s words “could not be in greater contrast to the Home Secretary’s response to the Manchester riots, when the rioters demanded immediate justice ‘or else’ and ministers desperately tried to explain that they ‘understood’ their anger”.
He asked: “Why has the Home Office responded so differently to these two events? Can’t they see that this is fuelling the narrative of a two-tiered approach and driving people to the far right? This is extremely short-sighted and stupid.”
Southport, England – July 30th (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Southport, England – July 30th (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
A large group of mostly men were relentlessly throwing objects at the mosque. Armed police arrived. pic.twitter.com/zNLwmizTW9
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) July 30, 2024
Some wanted to know the motives behind it. Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said: Said People who protest about the murder of children don’t actually care about children, he said: “They attack mosques and shout Islamophobic slurs. Let’s not pretend the Far Right cares at all about the children murdered in Southport. These thugs are scum who are using the murder of children to further their own bigoted ends. This is what happens when you appease the Far Right.”
Following the mass stabbing attack the previous day, Yousaf, Scotland’s first Muslim leader, Said“Absolutely disgusting. Our only response to the evil we witnessed in Southport yesterday is to express our deepest sorrow for the children and adults lost in such a senseless attack. If you exploit such a horrific tragedy to incite prejudice, you represent the worst of humanity.”
“How many more children?” Prime Minister heckles at scene of mass stabbing of young girlshttps://t.co/WLzU1aba8a
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 30, 2024
