Rioters chanting ‘English till I die’ last night clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport, near to where three girls were killed in a horrific knife rampage on Monday.
Police condemned the ‘sickening’ violence which broke out amid speculation over the identity of the suspect arrested in connection with the savage attack on a group of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The angry mob – who police ‘believe to be supporters of the English Defence League’ – began to launch items towards a mosque barely an hour after thousands gathered for a vigil at 6pm to remember the victims of the holiday club outrage.
The three girls have been named by police as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Just yards away from the emotional vigil, a 32-year-old man was separately arrested after being caught carrying a flick knife on Eastbank Street at 6.55pm.
On nearby St Luke’s Street, a crowd of men surrounded the Southport Mosque amen Islamic Cultural Centre and began hurling rubble at police officers who had formed a protective line around the building.
The thugs, many wearing masks and hoodies, were seen targeting the Muslim place of worship at around 7.45pm – including shattering windows – after police issued a warning over an ‘incorrect’ name for the alleged attacker being widely circulated online.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but from the nearby Lancashire village of Banks, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder.
The violence appears to have been fuelled by false claims online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
Merseyside Police said: ‘We would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.’
Local mosque groups condemned the violence aimed towards Muslims, adding: ‘We must not let those who seek to divide us and spread hatred use this as an opportunity.’
Police said that a number of officers were injured, while cars were set alight and shops were broken into and looted during the disorder.
In a desperate bid to protect themselves, officers put on helmets and riot gear after stones and bottles were launched at them. One officer has suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set on fire as around 400 people gathered to watch.
