Following a night of ‘chaos and disorder’, police in Hull have made twenty arrests and have condemned the ‘senseless vandalism, antisocial behaviour and sheer violence that has been brought to our streets.’
In the latest string of riots and protests after the killing of three young girls in Southport on Monday, shops, vehicles and buildings have been damaged, looted and set alight in various locations across the country.
A number of police officers have also sustained injuries after anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters clashed on Saturday, most notably in areas such as Hull, Belfast, Liverpool and Bristol.
Follow the latest news of the riots here with our live blog
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the chaos as the ‘actions of a tiny, mindless minority’ and shunned the ‘violent disorder, clearly whipped up online’ during a press conference on Thursday.
He added that, just as these ‘thugs’ are mobile, so too will police forces be.
‘They move from community to community, and we must have a police response that can do the same,’ he said.
Today, in the wake of the chaos, business owners, local authorities and communities are coming together to clean up the streets.
Hull
In Hull city centre, shops were broken into and looted, before rioters proceeded to set a Shoe Zone store on fire.
Shocking footage of the scene shows the store on Jameson Street ablaze, with its wares scattered on the street in front of it and black smoke billowing from the doorway.
Firefighters attended the scene yesterday at around 7pm, urging local residents to avoid the area and warning them to close their windows and doors.
This morning, emergency services and council workers are in the process of cleaning up the debris.
Leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross, said in a statement: ‘I speak on behalf of the overwhelming majority of Hull residents as I condemn the appalling scenes witnessed in our city centre this afternoon. This is not the Hull we know and love.
‘These actions do not reflect the beliefs of those who genuinely care about their country, city, or communities; rather, they stem from a small group of criminals’ intent on bringing division, conflict, and fear to our city.’
He added: ‘Hull is a vibrant and diverse city, home to caring and considerate individuals who will stand united to demonstrate that today’s events do not define us. Together, we will work to repair the damage caused by this unrepresentative minority.’
Police in the area have so far made twenty arrests. Three officers also have sustained injuries after being attacked with bricks and fireworks during the clashes.
Belfast
On Saturday, rioters set off fireworks and missiles near Belfast city hall, before they targeted several businesses in the area.
A supermarket and a cafe in the Donegall Road area were badly damaged during the unrest, and a number of cars were burnt out.
Business owners, such as Bashir (pictured below), are currently in the process of cleaning up the mess.
Of the incident, he said: ‘People attacked this place, racism against Islam and Muslims, especially the Muslim community.
‘All of that happened and the police did nothing, I am telling you the truth. What kind of police are letting the people burn everything down?’
Liverpool
In Liverpool, counter-protesters faced off with around 1,000 anti-immigration protesters yesterday near St George’s Hall – the latter shouting racial slurs and Islamophobic chants.
Several police officers were injured during scuffles between them and the rioters.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims confirmed that one officer suffered a broken nose, while another’s jaw was broken.
The Spellow Hub library was also targeted by rioters and was set alight at around 11.30pm. As well as serving the community as a library, the building also functions as a food bank.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said of the attack: ‘Devastated to see this wonderful community asset ravaged by thugs.’
Police across the UK have warned that further disorder is likely today.
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