Protests take place across UK following violence in Sunderland

Cities across the UK are bracing themselves for potential violence as a number of far-right protests take place across the country.

Riot police are being drafted to several cities including Manchester and London following a string of violent protests during the week.

Officers were deployed to calm violent protests in Southport, Hartlepool, Manchester and London in the wake of the Southport stabbing on Monday (July 29th).

Three girls were killed by 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana from Lancashire whilst they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the holiday resort.

Violence first erupted in Southport after false information claimed that Axel, who was born in Cardiff and had lived in the area since he was six, had been an asylum seeker with Islamist links.

The violent demonstrations in the wake of the stabbing continued in Sunderland on Friday, where both a police station and the Citizen's Advice office were set alight.

A priest from Sunderland Minster added that protestors had tried to smash a gravestone to use as rocks and missiles to launch at police, which was "an act of sacrilege".

Protests across the country are now taking place under the theme of "Enough is Enough"; though, many have been met with resistance from counter-protestors and the police.

Greater Manchester Police have issued a dispersal order across the city centre. giving officers powers to break up large groups and seize items suspected to be used for anti-social behaviour.

As well as this, Merseyside Police have enacted a Section 60 order which will last until midnight on Sunday (August 4th), temporarily giving officers extra powers.

Similarly, protests have become tense in the Northern Irish capital Belfast, after fireworks were thrown between opposing groups.

Sunderland Central Labour MP Lewis Atkinson said that a link could be drawn between the far-right protests and the English Defence League (EDL), formerly headed by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.

Chief Superintendent Mark Hall from Northumbria Police said that a total of ten arrests had been arrested by the force following the disturbances, with four officers requiring to be treated in hospital.

He told reporters that those involved in the disorder should "expect to be met with the full force of the law", adding: "This was not a protest, this was unforgivable violence and disorder."

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