Huge clashes have erupted between right-wing protesters and police in London – as other parts of the country also face a second night of violence over the death of three girls in the Southport knife rampage.
Police were forced to put on riot gear after chanting activists threw cans and launched flares outside Downing Street as tensions continue to grow following the stabbing frenzy at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday.
Tributes have poured in for the three girls killed who police yesterday named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds in the bloodbath. Five are in a critical condition, as are two women who bravely tried to save the children.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in nearby Banks, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
False speculation online that the suspect is an asylum seeker who had travelled to the UK on a boat appeared to fuel the shocking riots outside a mosque in Southport last night. He cannot be identified because he is under the age of 18.
Southport locals – including Elsie’s mother – have called for the violence to stop after police vans were torched and bricks were hurled in violence that left 53 officers injured.
But a huge protest has broken out in London, riot police were pelted with missiles in Hartlepool, County Durham, and glass bottles were thrown at a police van by masked thugs in Manchester.
Around 1,000 right-wing activists descended on Whitehall this evening, with some waving a Union Jack flag banner with the words: ‘Enough is enough. Stop the boats.’
Huge scuffles between police and protesters have broken out, with officers wrestling activists to the ground and leading them away in handcuffs after they tried to breach police lines.
Loud chants of ‘Oh Tommy Robinson’ and ‘we want our country back’ were also heard as protesters surrounded The Cenotaph, despite police vans trying to protect the war memorial on Whitehall.
Beer cans and glass bottles were launched at a line of police in riot gear who have assembled to block Whitehall in front of Downing Street. Other protesters have attempted to kick down a fence and were confronted by riot police.
Some activists were wearing red caps which said ‘Make Britain Great Again’ – a reference to Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement.
Others wore t-shirts calling for English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson to be Home Secretary and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to be Prime Minister.
Many protesters were draped in England flags as the Enough Is Enough protest got underway shortly after 7pm.
One with a Union Jack flag wrapped around him was seen mounting a traffic light in front of an army of riot police officers.
Shortly after 7pm, the protesters – many of whom were drinking alcohol – began marching towards Parliament Square.
A few hundred protesters chanting ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘save our kids’ and ‘stop the boats’ attempted to leave the pavement opposite Downing Street in defiance of strict Metropolitan Police conditions on the protest.
The Metropolitan Police said demonstrators taking part had to stay within a certain area and leave at 8.30pm.
Protesters forced police to put riot gear on as they threw cans at police outside Downing Street. But that didn’t stop one protester, who confronted one police officer and lifted up the mask of his helmet with his finger.
They also threw flares on to the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and shouted abuse at nearby pro-Ukrainian demonstrators and police.
More than a dozen protesters have been detained by police on Whitehall. Officers led many of the men away in handcuffs.
A police helicopter was also seen flying over Downing Street amid the unrest.
Around an hour into the protest, activists started trying to break a police line on Whitehall to access Parliament Square. More bottles and cans were being thrown at police in riot gear who were desperately trying to hold off the protesters.
Activists then attempted to kick down a fence to circumvent a police line on Whitehall. Others ran past police towards Trafalgar Square and police formed a new line outside the Cabinet Office.
The last remaining protesters who were breaching the dispersal order were detained in Whitehall at around 10pm and led away from near The Cenotaph.
Whitehall later reopened after protesters had wreaked havoc in the area.
The protest was promoted by actor Laurence Fox on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
Superintendent Neil Holyoak, who is leading the policing of the protest, said: ‘Following the tragic events in Southport, it is understandable the public have strong feelings about this shocking incident – but the subsequent violent, unlawful disorder that unfolded was completely unacceptable and driven by misinformation.
‘Everyone has a right to protest and we continue to balance the right to lawful protest with everyone’s right to go about their lives without fear or serious disruption – which is why we have put conditions in place and deployed more officers across London.
‘We are speaking to the protest organisers as well as local community groups, businesses and religious leaders, in particular the Muslim community who have been impacted by this week’s disorder in Southport.
‘I urge everyone to exercise their right to protest calmly and within the law. Any disorder will be dealt with swiftly.’
It comes after Jenni Stancombe, the mother of little Elsie who died in the Southport stabbings, pleaded for the violence to end on social media.
She said: ‘This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
‘The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.’
Back in Southport, where the grieving community was clearing up the damage from the riots today, a poster was put up which said: ‘Leave our town. We don’t need this.’
Police officers from around the country have gathered in Southport in preparation of any disturbances.
Police vans, cars and horses have been deployed to the town in preparation of any disturbance.
Some 53 officers were injured in the violence – which police believe was started by supporters of the far-right EDL group. Four people were arrested after the riots.
A fifth man was also arrested on Wednesday night. It comes after officers were called to a separate domestic incident.
Officers recognised the man from footage of the disorder in Southport on Tuesday, where it is thought he sustained a head injury.
He was taken to hospital where he was reported to have racially abused a fellow patient.
The 39-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence.
He was taken into custody to be interviewed and conditionally bailed, the force said.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said: ‘Our work to identify all those responsible for the despicable violence and aggression seen on the streets of Southport on Tuesday continues.
‘We have been inundated with images and footage from members of the public who were outraged at the destruction carried out.
‘The individuals involved in the disorder had no regard for the families and friends of those who so tragically lost their lives, and a community in grief.
‘It has been heartening today to see the reaction of the whole community, who have pulled together to clean the streets, rebuild walls and re-glaze broken windows.’
The mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, told Sky News earlier that he does not believe there will be more violence tonight.
But as well as London, there were scenes of chaos in Hartlepool where thugs were seen throwing objects at riot police and striking their shields.
Missiles were hurled at the police who are braced for attacks with shields after hundreds gathered in the town centre.
Officers shut off a large section of Murray Street, a busy road full of takeaways and shops.
It is understood the Salaam Community Centre is under threat and police are working to keep the area safe.
Rioters were also filmed shouting racist chants. Many had their faces covered and aggressively clapped their hands and waved their arms in the air during the violence.
A spokesperson for Hartlepool Police said: ‘There remains a policing presence in the Murray Street area while officers deal with disorder after responding to a protest – several arrests have already been made.
‘The road is still closed and people are advised to avoid the area.’
MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash issued a statement which read: ‘I’m deeply concerned about the situation that is developing in Hartlepool this evening.
‘I will be meeting with police to discuss the response to this incident and would urge calm to allow our emergency services to do their job.
‘These events do not represent what Hartlepool is or the values that our people hold. Violence is never the answer.’
Other footage emerged of a group of thugs, some masked, launching glass bottles at riot police and vans. It is understood they were targeting a hotel where migrants are believed to be housed.