General
U.K. Police Officers Injured in Far-Right Riot After Deadly Stabbing
A day after a knife attack in Southport, northwestern England, left three young girls dead, unrest driven in part by disinformation online erupted on the town’s streets.
Almost 40 police officers were injured in the northwestern English town of Southport on Tuesday evening after a day of mourning for children killed in a stabbing attack was disrupted by far-right protesters.
A large group that the police say included supporters of the English Defence League, a far-right extremist organization, began attacking a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the Merseyside Police Service, which covers the region.
Officials said that the targeting of the mosque and the ensuing riot appeared to be linked to online disinformation about the stabbing on Monday, when an attacker killed three children and injured eight other children and two adults at a dance class in Southport.
The police on Monday arrested a 17-year-old who was born in Cardiff, Wales, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. In line with British law regarding minors, the police did not identify the suspect, and subsequently they warned that a name being circulated on social media was incorrect.
Alex Goss, the assistant chief constable of the Merseyside police, said on Tuesday night, “There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets.”
He added, “We have already said that the person arrested was born in the U.K. and speculation helps nobody at this time.”
