A shocking outbreak of violence erupted in Sunderland on Friday night igniting a crisis, as police faced “serious and sustained” aggression during a riot. Northumbria Police reported that three officers were hospitalised following the unrest. Eight arrests have been made after a police building was ransacked and a Citizens Advice office next door was set ablaze. The chaos saw beer cans and bricks hurled at riot police outside a mosque, with cars also set alight.
This turmoil is the latest in a series of disturbances across England, triggered by the tragic killing of three young girls in Southport on Monday. Chief Superintendent Helena Barron condemned the “utterly deplorable” violence, affirming that a thorough investigation is underway to hold those responsible accountable. Of the injured officers, one has been discharged, while two remain in hospital.
Disturbingly, some rioters were heard shouting Islamophobic slurs and chanting in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson. His social media account has spread false claims about the Southport attacker being an asylum seeker.
Lewis Atkinson, Labour MP for Sunderland Central, highlighted the presence of far-right groups, noting a flag referencing the North East Infidels, a Nazi offshoot of the now-disbanded English Defence League (EDL). Mounted police were deployed to manage the disorder, facing masked demonstrators who threw beer barrels and chanted “Whose streets? Our streets.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed that those attacking police would “pay the price for their violence and thuggery.” The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service was called to extinguish the fire near Sunderland Central Police office, while rail and bus services were halted for safety reasons.
Residents reported hearing police helicopters past midnight, and Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed the significant damage inflicted on the city, including looted shops and burned cars. She emphasised the need for those responsible to face the full force of the law, condemning the exploitation of grief for criminal acts.
Sunderland AFC voiced its dismay on social media, asserting that the violent scenes did not represent the city’s values of togetherness and acceptance. MP Lewis Atkinson pledged full support to the police in tackling the criminal “thuggery.”
Meanwhile, around 200 anti-racist protesters gathered outside Liverpool’s Abdullah Quilliam Mosque, chanting in support of refugees amidst rumours of a far-right protest. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson announced the deployment of extra prosecutors to swiftly handle the cases arising from the disorder.
Protests have also turned violent in towns and cities including London, Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot following the Southport attack. In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new national violent disorder programme to enhance police intelligence sharing and mobility in tackling these groups. In a televised speech, he condemned the online incitement of violence and affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining public safety.
The BBC reports that at least 30 far-right demonstrations are planned across the UK this weekend, including a new protest in Southport.
