Southport local Norman Wallace has blasted an “out of town” mob for causing destruction in the seaside town.
Wallace, who helped to organise the subsequent clean-up efforts, told GB News’s East Midlands reporter Will Hollis that Southport was “like a war zone” after a vigil paid tribute to three girls who lost their lives in a crazed knife attack.
“The vigil was fantastic with the people of Southport coming together”, he said.
“And then suddenly, we heard sirens, we saw smoke in the air and then there was a riot. It was all people who were from outside of town who got changed when they got here into the streets and set about the police.
Norman Wallace spoke to GB News's Will Hollis about his efforts in organisation of the clean-up
GB NEWS
“The police did a marvellous job, there wasn’t enough of them, but they weren’t to know that.
“These were people outside of town who came into cause trouble for people who haven’t done any harm.
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A police van was set on fire
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“Today, the people of Southport have come together to clean this whole street up. It shows great spirit.”
The violent protests erupted following a vigil for Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were all killed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Merseyside Police said “a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League” – began to throw items such as bricks towards the mosque in the seaside town at around 7.45pm.
In a post on social media, the force said shops had been “broken into and looted”, adding that “those responsible will be brought to justice”.
Locals have gathered to clean up the town
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Workers have gathered to help with the clean-up efforts
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Wallace hit out at those who caused chaos in the town, saying local streets soon resembled a “war scene”.
“It was just horrendous. It was like a war scene”, he said.
“But the people of Southport, it wasn’t them. It was people who came into the town to cause mayhem and trouble and the people in Government need to do something about them.”
A coordinated clean-up effort has followed the unrest, and Wallace played explained to Will his role in the endeavours.
“I posted to encourage the people of Southport to come down here and help the residents on this street clean up”, he said.
“They have burned dustbins, they have bashed cars with bricks and caused absolute mayhem. None of that is the fault of people in the street.”