Southport rioters linked to far right, UK police say

  • 3 months ago

Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English

Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Transcript
00:00Southport cleaning up as the city continues to mourn. Tuesday evening its
00:05streets were the scene of violent clashes, protesters throwing bricks at
00:09police and setting vehicles on fire. The riot broke out just a few streets away
00:14from an earlier vigil for the victims of Monday's mass stabbing that left three
00:18young girls dead and eight others wounded. Officials believe far-right
00:22agitators are behind the unrest.
00:25In Southport, haters aren't going to win. They won't win here and whilst they've
00:31come and brought their circus and hoping to whip up some tension, that's not
00:37gonna happen here. We're known for our solidarity. Some 50 officers were hurt.
00:43The violence erupted when around a hundred rioters began to throw bricks at
00:47a nearby mosque. Police have connected them to the English Defence League, a
00:52far-right anti-Muslim group. They've been fired up by misinformation on right-wing
00:57social media suggesting an Islamist link to the stabbing. Police have arrested a
01:0217-year-old suspect in Monday's attack. They have yet to reveal his identity,
01:06confirming only that he was born in the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been
01:12at Tuesday's vigil. He later condemned the ensuing violence on social media.
01:16Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery
01:20have insulted the community as it grieves. They will feel the full force of
01:24the law. Monday's victims had been at a children's yoga class dancing to Taylor
01:30Swift when the attack unfolded. The singer says it has left her in shock.
01:34Her fans, meanwhile, have raised more than 320,000 euros for the victims and the
01:39local hospital where they've been treated.

Recommended