Man charged after disorder in Manchester following Southport stabbings

About 100 demonstrators gathered on Wednesday outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, which was being used to house asylum seekers

Police wish to speak to the people in this image
Author: Rosie Shead, PA Published 2nd Aug 2024

A man has been charged after disorder in Manchester broke out following the Southport mass stabbing, police have said.

About 100 demonstrators gathered on Wednesday outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, which was being used to house asylum seekers.

Joshua Stokes, 25, of Ten Acres Lane, Manchester, has been charged with violent disorder and attempted ABH (actual bodily harm) of a police officer, Greater Manchester police said.

He was remanded into custody to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Friday.

Two members of the public were hurt during the unrest, including a bus driver who was forced to stop by the crowd, and a man who was hit by a projectile, but neither sustained serious injuries, police said.

Objects, including beer bottles, were thrown at police, but the force said no injuries had been reported by officers.

There were riots in Southport on Tuesday and in London, Hartlepool and Aldershot on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the riots were "not protest" and "not legitimate" as he vowed not to permit a "breakdown of law and order".

Greater Manchester Police have appealed for information and released images of people they wish to speak to.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or the force's website at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1369 of July 31 2024.

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