In England, new mass riots began due to the high-profile murder of children
Police officers in Sunderland were pelted with beer cans and stones in the city center and outside the mosque on St Mark's Street.
After another night of rioting and disorder in parts of the UK, eight people were arrested in Sunderland for various offences. About this informs The Guardian.
Three police officers were taken to the hospital with injuries, one of them has already been discharged. At least one building and one car were reportedly set on fire as police tried to control the crowd of several hundred protesters.
Some protesters wore balaclavas, others were wrapped in English flags. Police officers were pelted with beer cans and stones in the city center and near the mosque on St. Mark’s Street.
The protests, fueled by far-right activists on social media, began in the recently renovated square. Videos posted on social media showed young people throwing stones at police officers, shouting “Whose streets? Our streets” and chanting Islamophobic slogans.
The riots in Sunderland were part of a wave of protests planned across the UK this weekend following a knife attack in Southport on Monday. The protests were provoked by misinformation on social networks about the origin and religion of the 17-year-old suspect.
On Monday, a 17-year-old gunman stormed into a dance school event celebrating Taylor Swift and killed three little girls. Another eight children were injured.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the creation of a “national capacity” to deal with violent riots and rioters. He also called for stronger control over the spread of misinformation on social media, which contributes to the escalation of violence.
