Abandoned police riot gear was strewn across the ground close to the spot where a police Matrix van was set on fire.
The area around the Suites Hotel, Kirkby, was quiet this morning following the scenes last night in Knowsley. Merseyside Police was called to Ribblers Lane at around 6.30pm to what they said was initially a "peaceful protest and counter protest".
But the events changed quickly when missiles were thrown and people started to cause damage. Footage sent to the ECHO showed people taking what appeared to be sledgehammers to a police vehicle. A police riot van, parked near the protests, was vandalised with graffiti before it was then set on fire.
READ MORE: Three arrested after appalling scenes near hotel
Images taken by the ECHO at the scene showed a wall of Merseyside Police riot officers standing in front of the burning vehicle. A large group of people dressed in black opposed the police and threw missiles towards the line of officers.
A spokesperson for the force said additional officers were deployed to the area to deal with the incidents. The spokesperson confirmed three people had been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and taken to police stations to be questioned. Police have also taken measures to record the actions of those at the protest to gather further evidence.
Outside the Suites Hotel this morning two police vans remained. Abandoned riot gear was photographed strewn across an area of woodland close to the hotel. The burnt-out shell of the police van had been removed, but a large patch of ground close to the hotel's perimeter was fire-scorched.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram confirmed this morning he would be visiting the site with Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan. Mr Rotheram said: "Our area has been a sanctuary for people seeking refuge for centuries. The disturbing scenes in Knowsley aren't representative of our area or its people. Hatred is not welcome here."
Cllr Morgan said last night he was "saddened and concerned" by the behaviour that "put the safety of the local community, police officers and our emergency services on the scene at risk".
It is understood a number of far-right groups were involved in organising the protest. Knowsley Labour MP George Howarth said he had referred an alleged incident posted on social media, which he said had "triggered" the protest, to police. The MP said the violent scenes did not represent the community.
He said in a statement on Twitter: "Until the police have investigated the matter, it is too soon to jump to conclusions and the effort on the part of some to inflame the situation is emphatically wrong.
"If an offence has been committed, the police should deal with it appropriately through due process."
The statement added: "The people of Knowsley are not bigots and are welcoming to people escaping from some of the most dangerous places in the world in search of a place of safety."
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: "We will always respect the right to protest when these are peaceful, but the scenes tonight were completely unacceptable, putting those present, our officers and the wider community in danger. Thankfully we have not had any serious injuries reported up to this point, but for officers and police vehicles to be damaged in the course of their duty protecting the public is disgraceful.
"We have arrested some of those suspects and will continue without hesitation to review all and any evidence which comes in, through CCTV, images or other information you may have. I would also like to strongly remind not to post comments, footage or information on our channels but instead to pass it directly to officers via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference 1149.
"We will act swiftly upon all information given to identify any further offences and put those involved before the courts."
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