Shocking scenes as thugs set fire to FOODBANK and library in night of riots
Damage from inside the library
Liverpool City Council
A library and foodbank were torched by shameless thugs amid a night of rioting and chaos in Liverpool.
Spellow Library and Community Centre, which only opened last year after months of fundraising was set on fire as more than 300 people descended on County Road, less than half a mile away from Everton's Goodison Park.
As firefighters attempted to put out the fire at the centre, which also functions as a food bank, rioters threw a missile at the engine, before breaking the rear window of a nearby cab.
Liverpool Echo reports five communal bins were laid across the floor and set alight, and as the fire in the library grew, police pushed the rioters back, with several then proceeding to continue looting local shops.
Damage from inside the library
Liverpool City Council
The Library was targeted by rioters
Liverpool City Council
Merseyside Police assistant chief Constable Alex Goss said: "The people who have brought such aggression and destruction into the heart of our communities do not represent the people of Merseyside, and they certainly do not honour the memory of those three young girls whose lives were taken so tragically on Monday.
"They have instead attacked and in many cases caused serious injury to police officers who come to work every day to protect the public. They have brought fear into residential streets, targeted local businesses providing a vital service to our communities, and damaged personal property and infrastructure in the city.
"This is disgraceful and people who live, work and visit Merseyside do not want it to continue, and we will not tolerate it. A number of those involved this evening were youths and we are urging parents and guardians to make sure they know where their children are, to protect them and others from harm.
"If you have any information about this incident or if you know of anyone involved, I would urge you to contact us so we can bring those responsible to justice"
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Rioting in Liverpool
PA
It follows a day of unrest in Liverpool city centre
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Police officers face rioters in Liverpool city centre
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Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has condemned the "thugs" and has called for the rioters to feel the "full force of the law".
He said: "Devastated to see this wonderful community asset ravaged by thugs Last year, we invested to transform it into a resource to help improve local people’s lives. Last night, ransacked by people who simply do not care for our area.
"It was so much more than a library. This was not an attack on a building but an attack on our very community. This is not protest.
"This is an insult to those families still grieving and survivors still struggling to make sense of Monday’s attack. There can and must be consequences. They will feel the full force of the law."
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram
PA
Bashir's business in Northern Ireland was damaged in the blaze
PA
Bashir's business in Donegall Road, Belfast
PA
It follows scenes of unrest across the country, including in Belfast where a café and supermarket were badly damaged by fire after attacks which followed anti-immigration riots in the city.
A number of cars were also burnt out as the police attempted to deal with the disorder in the Donegall Road area which lasted several hours on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
Supermarket manager Bashir’s business was extensively damaged by fire. He said: "People attacked this place, racism against Islam and Muslims, especially the Muslim community....All of that happened and the police did nothing, I am telling you the truth.
“What kind of police are letting the people burn everything down?”