The prime minister has visited Southport after the fatal knife attack on a children’s holiday club there sparked violent protests in cities around the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer met Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram and Merseyside Police’s chief constable Serena Kennedy – as well as faith, health, and education leaders in the town on Friday.
He later travelled to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where some of the children injured in Monday’s attack were treated.
Three children, Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, died after being stabbed at the Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop at The Hart Space on Monday morning. Eight other children and two adults were also injured.
A 17-year-old boy, Axel Rudakubana, was arrested and has since been charged with murder and attempted murder.
The stabbings were followed by outbreaks of violence, initially in Southport, where far-right groups targeted a mosque.
Other towns and cities, including Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot have now experienced unrest, with at least 15 further protests planned across the country this weekend.
False narratives about the suspect’s nationality and religion have spread online and appear to be driving the unrest, with far-right groups reposting the claims on messaging app Telegram.
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How did disinformation spread?
It prompted Judge Andrew Menary KC to allow the naming of the suspect, who normally would have been granted anonymity as he is 17.
Many of the posts promoting the protests on social media contain phrases such as “enough is enough”, “save our kids”, and “stop the boats”.
Image: Enough is enough protests near Downing Street this week. Pic: PA
Stand Up To Racism and other groups are organising at least two counter-protests.
Sir Keir addressed the unrest earlier this week, vowing to “crackdown on thugs”, and setting up a new police unit to tackle violent disorder.
So far protests have centered mosques and hotels where migrants are living.
The protests arranged for the weekend include ones in Southport, Leeds, and Bristol.
Image: Protesters outside Rochdale Police Station this week.
Pic: Story Picture Agency/Shutterstock
Police in Northern Ireland have said they are aware of plans to “block roads with women and children”.
Meanwhile, forces in Nottinghamshire and Thames Valley are on high alert.
Liverpool City Region mayor said he was “concerned” that there could be a “repeat of violence somewhere in the Liverpool city region”, but added: “We know exactly what we’d need to do to ensure that these things are nipped in the bud.”
Lord Walney, the government’s adviser on political violence and disruption, said police should be prepared to step in if it appears troublemakers are travelling to incite riots.
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