Southport riots: 39 officers confirmed injured in clash with mob - 'No respect for a town that's grieving'

Merseyside Police said those involved in the unrest, who they believe included supporters of the English Defence League, set alight cars belonging to members of the public, threw bricks at the local mosque, damaged a local convenience store, and set wheelie bins on fire.

Extra police will remain in the area to provide a visible presence to reassure communities.

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, Alex Goss, said: "Merseyside Police has faced serious violence in Southport and I am so proud to have witnessed off-duty officers (many of whom had not long finished a full shift) parade back on duty to support their colleagues who had displayed such courage whilst under constant and sustained attack.

"I would also like to thank officers from Greater Manchester Police, Cheshire Police, Lancashire Police and North Wales Police who also provided mutual aid and support.

"Sadly, offenders have destroyed garden walls so they could use the bricks to attack our officers and have set cars belonging to the public on fire, and damaged cars parked in the mosque car park."

He added: "This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday."

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The rioting followed a frenzied stabbing attack in Southport on Monday at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club. The attack saw Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.

Eight other children were also stabbed, with five children and two adults left in a critical condition.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident at the dance studio in Hart Street.

The Muslim Council of Britain says Islamaphobic backlash began with a false rumour on the internet which was then stoked by misinformation from a Russian news site, which wrongfully associated the crime with Muslims.

The MCB paid tribute to the three young girls killed in Southport on Monday, before condemning "shocking scenes of far-right rioters running amok outside a mosque."

Writing on social media, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday. They deserve our support and our respect. Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the rioting outside a mosque in Southport as "violent attacks from thugs on the streets", which she branded "appalling."

Southport MP Patrick Hurley has condemned "beered-up thugs" who threw bricks towards a mosque.

He told the BBC: "Even if this lad, the 17-year-old, turns out to be Muslim, under no circumstances does that justify any attack on a mosque by anybody at all. Not least these beered-up thugs who have descended on the town last night intent on causing trouble. We all have to stand against that and Southport will not accept this. Southport will unite against this sort of thing."

The suspect, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon.

Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.

A 32-year-old man from Standish was arrested on suspicion of possession of a flick knife in Eastbank Street, near where the vigil took place on Tuesday evening.

He was taken into custody and there were no reports that anyone was injured during the incident, Merseyside Police said.