UK police brace for further unrest following Islamophobia-fueled riots

A group of people attacked police , throwing bricks at a mosque and setting vehicles and other things on fire

LONDON:

UK police mobilised on Wednesday to prevent a repeat of overnight violence in which dozens of officers were injured, following the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party that killed three children.

Merseyside Police chief Serena Kennedy said her force was "absolutely planning" for further possible disturbances in Southport, northwestern England, after Monday's knife rampage targeting children prompted Tuesday evening's clashes.

Supporters of the far-right English Defence League (EDL) are suspected of having travelled from outside the area to the seaside town near Liverpool to orchestrate several hours of serious violent disorder.

A 100-strong group attacked police and properties, throwing bricks at a mosque and setting vehicles and other things on fire.

Police say 53 officers were wounded, at least eight of them seriously, and that they had arrested four suspects.

The scenes of violence have been widely condemned, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowing that those responsible would "face the full force of the law".

During a visit there Wednesday, Kennedy said her officers were "well prepared" and had had "sufficient resources".

But she added: "The people who turned up last night were bolstered very quickly and it very quickly escalated."

Acknowledging communities in Southport were "really worried" about further disturbances, she added that Merseyside Police would continue to be supported by other regional forces.

That would ensure "that we don't see a repeat of last night", she added.

Officers have been granted new temporary powers to disperse any crowds that attempt to gather in the area later Wednesday.

The violence erupted shortly after a vigil was held in the town centre, where hundreds fell silent in tribute to the victims of the stabbing attack that also critically injured five children and two adults.

Police have said they are not treating it as terror-related.

Few details have emerged about the suspected attacker, other than that he is 17 years-old and born in the Welsh capital Cardiff. His parents were from Rwanda, according to the BBC.

Police have been granted more time to question him. He cannot be named because of his age.

Hours after the attack, unverified information about the suspect's background began spreading on social media.

Far-right influencer Andrew Tate had posted a video on social media, viewed by nearly 15 million people, blaming the stabbing on an "illegal migrant".

The Muslim Council of Britain said the Islamophobic backlash started with a false online rumour stoked by misinformation from a Russian news site, wrongfully associating the crime with Muslims.

"At a time of great tragedy, loss, and mourning, we must stand firm against the cynical forces of hatred and division," MCB secretary-general Zara Mohammed said.

Merseyside Police's assistant chief Alex Goss said there had been "much speculation and hypothesis" about the suspect while "many people who do not live in" the local area had participated in Tuesday night's violence.

"What did we do to deserve this? We've already lost our children," 53-year-old Suzanne Jerram, owner of a store that was vandalised, told AFP.

"Our community's grieving, how dare they come here to our town and do this? It's disgusting, it really is disgusting."

Shadow interior minister James Cleverly urged the government to respond "hard and fast" to the disturbances and online misinformation.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner suggested the government may "be looking at" whether to proscribe the EDL under anti-terror laws.

The young victims of Monday's attack were named the following day.

Nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died in hospital early on Tuesday, police said, after Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died on Monday.

Aguiar was the daughter of Portuguese parents from Madeira. Her family said in a tribute: "Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our princess."

Police said the two wounded adults had been trying to protect the children. Tributes have been paid to the bravery of dance and yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who was one of those injured.

US pop star Swift said she was "completely in shock" over "the loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone".