Four men involved in the Southport riot on Tuesday night have been arrested and “more will follow”, Merseyside Police said, as the Prime Minister vowed they will “feel the full force of the law”.
More than 50 police officers were injured in violent disorder involving hundreds of people in Southport after three girls were killed in a knife attack, police said.
Of the 53 officers injured, 49 were Merseyside Police officers and four were Lancashire Police officers. Eight were seriously injured, including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion and were treated in hospital.
Other officers suffered head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was knocked unconscious.
A 31-year-old man from St Helens was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. A man, 31, from West Derby, Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.A 39-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and a 32-year-old man from Manchester with a probation address in Southport was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article.
The offenders destroyed garden walls to use the bricks as missiles to attack officers and set cars belonging to the public on fire at random, Merseyside Police said.
“Those involved also threw bricks at a local mosque, damaged a local convenience store, and set wheelie bins on fire,” the force said in a statement on Wednesday.
Three police dogs were also injured. As a result of the disorder, a 24-hour Section 60 Order was introduced in the area and remains in place.
A Section 34 Order has also been introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, giving officers powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “I know the wider community is as shocked as we are about the abhorrent events of last night.
“Through the night there has been a tremendous effort by members of the public who came out to help clean up the streets, using hose pipes and brushes and donating food and dog food to officers to restore the pride and respect they have for their town.
“We have been overwhelmed with messages of thanks from the community, and I know I speak on behalf of all those officers there last night when I say how grateful we all are for their support.
“The wanton violence and destruction we saw is the very last thing the people of Southport need having been rocked by the awful events of Monday. The disrespect toward grieving families and the community is despicable, and I want to reassure residents in Southport that we will have a significantly increased police presence in the town in the coming days.
“We would appeal to anyone who has information or video footage of those involved in this shocking behaviour to come forward so we can identify and arrest those responsible.
“Finally, I want to make this absolutely clear: anyone who intends to cause future damage and harm to our communities will be dealt with robustly, using all our available powers.
“There are extensive plans and resources in place to quickly deal with anyone intent on causing disorder over the coming days. We will look to bring to justice every person who is identified committing criminal damage and acts of violence against our officers and our communities.”
Anyone with information can DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The violence on Tuesday evening came as mourners gathered in the seaside town of Southport for a vigil in honour of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were all fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said rioters in Southport had “hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery” and vowed they would ”feel the full force of the law”.
Merseyside Police said eight officers suffered serious injuries in the unrest, including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose, and a concussion.
Other officers suffered head injuries, and serious facial injuries, and one was knocked unconscious.
North West Ambulance Service said on X: “We treated 39 patients in total, all of which were police officers. 27 were taken to hospital and 12 were treated and discharged at scene.”
Three police dogs were also injured in the chaos, with dogs named Zoe and Ike suffering leg injuries from bricks thrown at them.
A third dog, Quga – who was bitten, strangled and kicked by an offender at the beginning of this month – suffered burns to her back leg, the force said.
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 a local mosque, damaged a local convenience store, and set wheelie bins on fire.
Writing on X, the Prime Minister, who visited Southport to pay respects on Tuesday, 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.”
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following Monday’s stabbing at the dance studio in Hart Street.
Southport MP Patrick Hurley condemned the rioters, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday: “Even if this lad...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.”
The Labour MP said a “swirling morass” of social media “lies and propaganda” are being criticism of Sir Keir Starmer in the wake of the attack.
“There’s not a single thing that the Prime Minister has done in the last three-and-a-half weeks he’s been in the role that has led to the stabbings that we saw on Monday,” he told Times Radio.
“This is a swirling morass on social media of lies and propaganda and people being given the opportunity and given the platform to say the most vile things in the most vile of circumstances.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned Tuesday’s rioting as “appalling”. She told broadcasters she had seen a community “coming together” during her visit to Southport earlier on Tuesday, and thanked police for their “heroism”.
She added: “That is why it is so appalling to now see those same police facing violent attacks from thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community.
“It is a total disgrace. Frankly, this is a time when everyone should be showing respect for a community and for the police.”
Extra police will remain in the area to provide a visible presence to reassure communities.
A 24-hour Section 60 Order was introduced in the area running from 7.54pm on Tuesday, which gives officers enhanced stop and search powers to stop individuals and is designed to minimise serious violence.
A Section 34 Order has also been introduced, giving police the power to direct people engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents.
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.
“This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday.”
Merseyside Police urged anyone with information on the disorder or who has video footage of those involved to contact the force.
The rioting followed a frenzied stabbing attack in Southport on Monday at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
A magistrate on Wednesday granted detectives more time to question the 17-year-old suspect they had had in custody since Monday.
The law allows officers up to 96 hours, or four days, to hold a suspect in custody for serious crimes.
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”.
