FAR-RIGHT protests have continued to erupt across England, marking the third night since the first violent riot in Southport.
Protests in Sunderland and Liverpool took place on Friday evening, with at least 19 other demonstrations planned over the weekend.
Demonstrations have been organised by the far-right following the spread of misinformation over the knife attack in Southport which killed three young girls and left several others in critical condition.
The first protest took place on Tuesday evening in Stockport following a vigil for the victims of the attack, as more than 50 police officers were injured and seven protesters were arrested.
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Sunderland’s city centre for a planned protest, as a march set off from Keel Square shortly before 7pm.
A large police presence was watching the marchers, some of whom were draped in England flags.
Members of the crowd chanted in support of far-right figure Tommy Robinson, whilst others shouted insults about Islam.
There was a standoff between police and protesters outside a mosque, where police in riot gear were attacked with stones and beer cans.
Disorder then started back at Keel Square, as police had beer barrels thrown at them whilst trying to contain the several hundred protesters.
As a helicopter flew overhead, young men threw stones at the police and chanted “whose streets, our streets”.
An overturned car was also set on fire as rioters set off fire extinguishers on police in protective gear.
In Liverpool, a crowd of around 200 anti-racist demonstrators gathered outside the Abdullah Quilliam mosque after rumours of a far-right protest there.
They were met by protesters as one crossed the road towards them, leading to a small altercation.
Those outside the mosque chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear: Refugees are welcome here.”
One man, among a small group on this the opposite side of the road, replied: “Are they f***.”
Those outside the mosque also chanted: “Nazi scum, off our streets.”
A swathe of demonstrations have been planned for over the weekend, with concerns raised that Glasgow could be one of the targets.
It comes as Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken warned Robinson that he would not be welcome in the city, after he endorsed a “pro-UK” demonstration set to take place in the city next month.
