More than 100 people arrested in London protest – MASHAHER

More than 100 people have been arrested in a protest in central London following a fatal knife attack and subsequent riot in Southport, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The Met said it made arrests for a range of offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions on Wednesday evening.

Police clashed with protesters on Whitehall, close to Downing Street, during a demonstration following the fatal stabbings of three girls at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.

In a statement the Met said officers were deployed to “ensure disorder was contained” but added that some “suffered minor injuries”.

Demonstrators were seen launching flares towards the gates of Downing Street and at a statue of Winston Churchill.

People could be heard chanting phrases such as “stop the boats” and “save our kids” as they threw bottles and cans at officers.

Earlier, the Met said conditions placed on the protest had been breached.

Several officers were also injured in separate disorder in Hartlepool, Cleveland Police said after violence broke out in the town.

Eight people were arrested in relation to public order offences after glass bottles and eggs were thrown at police by protesters. A police car was also set on fire.

Ch Supt David Sutherland said of the Cleveland arrests: “At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week.”

The force said they “expect further arrests to be made in the coming days”.

Wednesday’s disorder followed unrest near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday night, during which the building was attacked.

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

Disorder also broke out in Manchester and Aldershot. No arrests have been made.

Greater Manchester Police said protesters were dispersed in the Newton Heath area after “objects were thrown, towards the police and public.”

In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker said a peaceful protest “descended into intimidating behaviour” at a hotel in the Hampshire town.

“This incident was exacerbated by people from outside our community who came here determined to cause unrest,” she said.

“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 out community.”

The disorder came after Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday while attending a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport.

Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five of them in a critical condition – while two adults were also critically hurt.

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

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will welcome senior policing leaders to Downing Street later.

Number 10 said the meeting on Thursday would be “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,” it 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.”