More than 100 arrests following London protests in wake of Southport stabbings

The Prime Minister will host senior police leaders in Downing Street later

Over 100 people have been arrested for offences
Author: Aileen O'SullivanPublished 1st Aug 2024
Last updated 1st Aug 2024

More than 100 people have been arrested in London as further protests took place across the country in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

In the capital, a large protest was staged under the title of Enough is Enough, with arrests made after demonstrators clashed with officers in Whitehall on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police said: "Over 100 people have been arrested for offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions. Some officers suffered minor injuries."

Demonstrators were seen launching beer cans and glass bottles at a line of police in riot gear in front of Downing Street and throwing flares onto the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

The angry scenes also included loud chants of "we want our country back" and "Oh Tommy Robinson", referring to the right-wing activist.

Meeting at Downing Street

The Prime Minister will host senior police leaders in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon in the wake of violent unrest in multiple parts of the country.

He is expected to remind the police that people "exploit" the right to protest in order to "sow hatred" or commit "violent acts" should be met with "the full force of the law".

Sir Keir Starmer will also commit to working in partnership with police forces across the UK to stop "mindless violence" following scenes of unrest across the country.

Outbreaks of Violence

Violent outbreaks have taken place across Britain, including violent unrest in Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot.

Police in Hartlepool were attacked with missiles, glass bottles and eggs, Cleveland Police said.

A police car was also set alight during the violence after a large group of people gathered in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool on Wednesday evening.

In Manchester, demonstrators turned out in large numbers outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road at around 6pm, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Around 40 people, which the paper reports included children and men wearing balaclavas, gathered outside the Oldham Road premises in what the paper said "appeared to be a stand against asylum seekers currently being housed in the hotel".

In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker took to social media to rebuke violence in her community, stating that there is "no justification for disorderly behaviour and the scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough".

Cleveland Police also said it had made eight arrests for various offences including public order and affray after violence broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday, with more arrests expected.

Violence in Southport

It comes after violence erupted in Southport on Tuesday following a vigil for three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.

Police officers in Southport suffered serious injuries when bricks, stones and bottles were thrown and cars were set alight during violent protests.

The disorder near the town's mosque came after false rumours were circulated online about the suspect.

In an effort to avoid a second night of rioting, Merseyside Police were given extra powers, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, on Wednesday to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons.

Five people have been arrested over the unrest so far, which saw 53 officers and three police dogs injured.

Teen charged with murders

The unrest comes as a 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murders of the three girls.

Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knifeman entered the dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.

Eight other children suffered knife wounds - with five of them in critical condition - while two adults were also critically hurt.

The 17-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear on Thursday, August 1, at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Derby Square.

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