An 11-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a police vehicle was set alight during a protest in Hartlepool on Wednesday.
The police car was torched during riots which spread from Southport to other parts of the UK last night in the wake of the knife rampage which claimed the lives of three young girls.
The violence, also seen in London and Manchester, has been sparked by false speculation online that the suspect in the stabbing frenzy was an illegal immigrant who arrived in the UK on a small boat.
Murder suspect Axel Rudakubana, 17, was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and lived in Banks – a Lancashire village less than 15 minutes from Southport.
Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: ‘This is very much a live investigation and we are continuing to work to identify those involved in the disorder yesterday evening and bring them to justice.
‘Disorder of this kind will not be tolerated and those found to be involved will be robustly dealt with.’
Officers continue to have a visible presence in the area to reassure and protect the community.