Southport knife rampage: Mob throws bricks at mosque and sets police van alight amid social media warning

A far-Right protest outside a Southport mosque descended into rioting on Tuesday local time, barely an hour after thousands gathered for a vigil to remember the victims of the holiday club outrage.

Demonstrators threw missiles and set fire to a police van and at least one officer was reportedly injured in scuffles amid chants of “no more boats”.

Up to 200 people – some wearing masks – went on the rampage, shouting abuse at police.

One carried a placard reading: “Stop the boats! Send them back! Fight for our kids! Let’s stand together!”

The disgraceful scenes came after police condemned false rumours that the 17-year-old suspect in custody on suspicion of murder over the deadly attack in the town on Monday was an asylum seeker who came to Britain on a small boat.

They stressed that he was born in Cardiff and that his parents came to the UK from Rwanda.

Tensions had been rising all day, with a visit to the scene by Sir Keir Starmer marred by shouts of “Disgrace!” and “You should be ashamed of yourself, killing our kids!”

One woman at the riot said the disorder was because the knife man who attacked the children “was a Muslim”.

She said: “We are saying enough is enough. Why are they not stopping the migrants coming in? “How many more children will be killed because they are letting them all in? They should be at the borders stopping them.”

The furious mob tore down garden walls to use the bricks as missiles to pelt police.

Bricks were also thrown at the mosque and wheelie bins were hurled.

Some thugs threw smoke bombs, with men wearing caps and shorts charging at outnumbered officers.

Scores of riot vans and patrol cars raced to the scene and a police helicopter hovered overhead as the violence spread out of control, with smoke pouring into the darkening skies.

Merseyside Police’s assistant chief constable Alex Goss said last night: “It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives.

“In the last 24 hours, we have seen overwhelming support and sympathy from the community and wider Merseyside communities for the families who are currently trying to deal with their loss and care for victims injured during the major incident.

“Yesterday our officers and other members of the emergency services were faced with one of the most difficult situations they will ever face. Tonight they find themselves being attacked as they endeavour to prevent disorder.

“The actions in Southport will involve many people who do not live in the Merseyside area or care about the people of Merseyside.”

The appalling scenes came after the Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked whether he would appeal for calm before the planned far-Right rally.

He replied: “Of course, people should listen to the police, they should not do anything that is going to make the police’s job harder to manage the situation, to conduct their investigations.”

Merseyside Police yesterday issued a warning after an “incorrect” name for the alleged Southport attacker was widely circulated online.

Inaccurate posts by social media sleuths about the identity of the perpetrator have received millions of views and engagements. Downing Street also warned against “unhelpful” speculation amid concerns that misreporting online could inflame tensions.

Officers should be given the space to investigate the case without people guessing at the possible motive or circumstances, No 10 said.

Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said a bogus news channel seemed to have invented a fake name for the suspect and run a false story that was shared online.

Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.

Earlier yesterday, the Home Secretary called for social media firms to “take some responsibility” for inflammatory misinformation being spread online about the suspect.