Violent clashes erupted in the southeastern coastal town of New Southport, near Liverpool, England, following a tragic attack at a local school that left three students dead.
The unrest began after a protest organized by several white extremist groups, who falsely claimed that a Syrian refugee carried out the attack, despite lacking any evidence to support this assertion.
The demonstration started peacefully as the community mourned the loss of the three students. However, tensions escalated when protesters gathered outside a local mosque, engaging in acts of vandalism, setting a police van on fire, and hurling rocks at both the police and the mosque.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described how the initially somber protest was “hijacked by some extremists,” leading to a rapid deterioration of the situation.
In response to the violence, specialized police units were deployed to regain control, and multiple injuries were reported during the clashes. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that anyone disrupting public order would be “dealt with firmly,” asserting that no one should take the law into their own hands under the pretext of protest.
The riots were sparked by a knife attack at the Southport school two days earlier, which resulted in 10 injuries and the deaths of three female students. Misinformation circulated on social media, claiming the attacker was a Syrian refugee, further inflaming tensions and prompting the right-wing extremist groups to rally.
Authorities are urging calm and pledging a thorough investigation into both the school attack and the ensuing riots. Local leaders are calling for unity, emphasizing the need to break the cycle of violence that has impacted the community.
