Merseyside police: a number of officers injured in disturbances at Southport protest Merseyside police said a number of officers have been injured and has appealed for any information or footage of the disturbances. The force wrote on X: “A number of officers have been injured, cars set alight and a shop broken into and looted in Southport this evening. This is completely unacceptable. We’re gathering evidence and those responsible will be brought to justice. If you have footage of those involved DM @MerPolCC.” Far-right protesters in Southport have pelted police with glass bottles and bricks and attacked a mosque, after a knife attack that killed three children. Merseyside police said an officer suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set alight in the disturbances. “At around 7.45pm, a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League – began to throw items towards a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport,” the force said. “Officers who are deployed are currently dealing with criminal behaviour and violence with bottles and wheelie bins being thrown at them.” Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were all fatally stabbed in the attack on Monday. Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured. In the aftermath of the attack, for which a 17-year-old has been arrested, several false accusations were spread on social media with incorrect names of the attacker. The only details released about the suspect by police are that he is a 17-year-old from the village of Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff. Prime Minister: Rioters will "feel the full force of the law" The prime minister has said rioters will feel the “full force of the law” after violent clashes broke out in Southport this evening. Writing on X, Keir Starmer said: “The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday. “Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves. “They will feel the full force of the law.” The Liverpool Region Mosque Network said in a statement that it is “shocked and horrified by the heinous acts of murder and indiscriminate violence” yesterday which left three young girls dead and injured several others. It added: “A minority of people are attempting to portray that this inhumane act is somehow related to the Muslim community. Frankly, it is not”. As some protesters pulled up the floor outside one shop to arm themselves with rocks to throw at the police, on the other side of the road a group stormed of men stormed an other shop, attempting to break through the shutters. As darkness fell, smaller groups dispersed and roamed the streets, setting fires in the road. Residents’ walls and fence were pulled down; the bricks used as missiles, and the wooden panels added to the fire. When an elderly couple tried to confront protesters destroying their fence, a man told them to get back inside, while a woman screamed “you’ve got kids, haven’t you?” As police from four neighbouring forces were called in, officers struggled to bring the situation under control. Over police radios, some called for backup, saying “we’re having petrol thrown at us.” Merseyside police: a number of officers injured in disturbances at Southport protest Merseyside police said a number of officers have been injured and has appealed for any information or footage of the disturbances. The force wrote on X: “A number of officers have been injured, cars set alight and a shop broken into and looted in Southport this evening. This is completely unacceptable. We’re gathering evidence and those responsible will be brought to justice. If you have footage of those involved DM @MerPolCC.” In Sussex Road in Southport, police officers with riot shields and helmets stood across the road as fires burned and debris was thrown. It appeared wheelie bins had been set alight. Bricks were scattered across the road and some were thrown, hitting police shields. Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy posted on X: “I am incredibly proud of my officers and staff who have worked so hard to save the lives of children, investigate the horrific incident from yesterday, working with partners to provide reassurance to our communities and now they are facing this level of violence from these thugs “Over 1000 residents from Southport came together this evening to remember the little girls who have died, those who are still critical in hospital and all those who witnessed & are traumatised by the events from yesterday. This is where all of our focus should be.” Darkness has now fallen and reinforcements from Greater Manchester and Lancashire police are pulling in to try and bring the situation under control. Smaller groups have now broken off and are wandering the surrounding streets. The violence and disturbances were so serious that Merseyside police called in reinforcements from as far as Wales. Officers were rushed in from North Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester as well the Cheshire force. Merseyside Police posted on X: “Officers who had completed a shift in work today are back on duty supporting colleagues in Southport.” The force said mutual aid was being provided by officers from Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police, Cheshire Constabulary and North Wales Police. Cooper said “scenes of thuggery” on the streets of Southport “bear no relation” to the community which had been coming together. She told broadcasters: “I think everyone should be showing some respect for the community that is grieving and also for the police who are pursuing an urgent criminal investigation now, and who showed such heroism and bravery yesterday in the face of these horrific attacks. “I think everyone needs to support the police in that work, and frankly the scenes of thuggery that we have seen on the streets of Southport this evening bear no relation to the way in which the Southport community has been coming together to support each other and to support grieving families. “We need to see some respect for the grieving community and for the police in their urgent work.” Home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was “appalling” police officers in Southport were facing attacks from “thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community”, adding: “It’s a total disgrace”. Man arrested and flick knife seized near vigil for victims A man has been arrested and a flick knife has been seized near the vigil that was taking place for the victims of the stabbing attack, police said. Merseyside police said a 32-year-old man from Standish had been arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article and taken into custody. Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy said: “We know too well the devastating impact knife crime can have for victims, their families and friends, and those who carry them. “This week has seen an unspeakable tragedy unfold in Southport, and this incident occurred a short distance from where a vigil had been happening where the community was paying their respects to all those affected.” The MP for Southport, Patrick Hurley, said he is “deeply concerned” by the violent protests taking place and has urged people to “stay safe”. The situation outside the mosque appeared to have calmed down as darkness descended, with numbers on the street having thinned. Two more fires, which appear to be wheelie bins, had been set alight. Marie-Anne Kent, a Methodist minister at nearby St Philip and St Paul with Wesley church, was horrified to see violence and division in the aftermath of such a tragic incident. “This is not Southport. This is not Southport,” she said, visibly distressed, standing in front of a row of riot police. “We knew the far right were making the most of dividing the community when the community is striving hard to come together to get over the terrible thing that happened yesterday. “This has nothing to do with our Muslim brothers and sisters… We are a community that’s here to support those we love and unity and certainly not to bring division at a time like this.” Riot police have cleared the area directly outside Southport Mosque and were standing guard with batons raised. A police van was on fire behind them, with black smoke filling the air. Masked youths were scouring the ground for bricks littering the floor to throw at lines of officers. Heavy thuds were also heard as the vans took hits and police raised their shields against incoming missiles.