Over 100 arrested in London as Southport protests spread

According to reports, law-enforcement officials clashed with protesters last evening on Whitehall, close to Downing Street, during a demonstration, following which police had to arrest dozens of agitators to bring the situation under control.

Protests also broke out in the port town of Hartlepool where at least eight people were arrested, several police officers were injured and a police vehicle was set on fire.

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet senior police leaders on Thursday (Aug 1) to offer them his "full backing" in the face of ongoing unrest, reports BBC.

According to reports, the meeting serves to "offer them the government’s full backing following multiple high-profile incidents of extreme violence and public disorder on our streets".

"[The prime minister] will say that the shocking events in Southport this week serve as a reminder of the bravery of our emergency service workers and the vitally important work they do to keep the public safe," the Prime Minister's office said.

"While the right to peaceful protest must be protected at all costs, he will be clear that criminals who exploit that right in order to sow hatred and carry out violent acts will face the full force of the law," it added.

As per reports, protesters were seen launching flares towards the gates of  Starmer's Downing Street office and at a statue of Winston Churchill in London, while demonstrators could be heard chanting phrases like "stop the boats" and "save our kids" as they threw cans and bottles at cops.

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The London Metropolitan Police earlier said conditions placed on the protest had been breached, adding that it made arrests for a range of offences, including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker and breach of protest conditions, on Wednesday evening.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that officers were deployed to "ensure disorder was contained" but added that some "suffered minor injuries".

Meanwhile, Cleveland Police stated that several of its officers were also hurt in Hartlepool after violence broke out in the town, adding that eight protesters were taken to custody in relation to public order offences after agitators threw glass bottles and eggs at police officers, and torched a police car.

Commenting on the Cleveland arrests, Chief Superintendent of Cleveland Police, David Sutherland said, "At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week."

Cleveland Police said the force "expects further arrests to be made in the coming days" if protests continue to spread.

Meanwhile, disorder and intimidating behaviour was also reported in Aldershot and Manchester, where two men were arrested for violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker, reports BBC.

BBC reported, quoting Greater Manchester Police, that protesters were dispersed in the Newton Heath area after "objects were thrown, towards the police and public".

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In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker said a peaceful protest "descended into intimidating behaviour" at a hotel in the Hampshire town, adding that "the incident was exacerbated by people from outside the local community who came there determined to cause unrest."

"We all support our shared right to peacefully protest, but we will not stand for people coming to our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community," she said.

According to reports, Wednesday's disorder followed unrest near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday (July 30) night, during which the building was attacked.

Meanwhile, Merseyside Police officers were also pelted with bricks and a police van was set on fire.

The protests broke out after three children — Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9), Bebe King (6) and Elsie Dot Stancombe (7) — were fatally stabbed on Monday (July 29) while attending a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, reports said.

As per media reports, eight other children suffered knife injuries — with five of them in a critical condition — while two adults were also critically hurt.

Earlier this morning, a 17-year-old boy was charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder by Merseyside Police.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates' Court later today, reports BBC.