Southport latest: Police impose stop and search powers in Liverpool - as mosque extends olive branch (2024)

Riot police are being attacked with stones and beer cans in Sunderland.

Protesters are hurling the objects in a standoff outside a mosque, which is being protected by police.

Mounted police have pushed back demonstrators, some of whom are in masks.

At a protest unfolding in Sunderland, members of the crowd are chanting in support of Tommy Robinson, who founded the far-right English Defence League and led it until 2013.

Others have shouted insults about Islam.

Mounted police are following the march, along with officers in vans who battled their way through traffic to keep up.

The British Muslim community is "anxious" about the "plans and protests by the far-right" this weekend, the chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board has said.

Standing outside Southport Mosque alongside other Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders, Qari Asim said hate will "never prevail".

He said some people have chosen to use a moment of grief to "sow the seeds of division" and spread Islamophobia.

"We stand here today, united in our grief and resolute in our condemnation of those opportunists who have shamelessly attempted to undermine and divide our communities.

"We believe that the community here in Southport, and the country as a whole, must now come together to challenge hatred based on people's identities. In particular, the rising levels of Islamophobia must not be allowed to fester in our society."

Mr Asim said the UK was characterised by the ordinary people who joined together to clean up the streets of Southport and repair damage following the riot on Tuesday.

"We are united for humanity, and we stand up for one another, that we can extend a hand of friendship, even in the darkest of times, that we can build community instead of breaking it."

Hundreds of people have gathered in Sunderland city centre for a protest, some draped in England flags.

A large police presence is watching the marchers at Keel Square.

A loud cheer was heard from the crowd and drivers tooted their horns as they passed.

Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham has welcomed a package of support for Southport announced by the prime minister.

He said it would aid efforts to "honour the memory of those tragically killed or injured", by working with schools and others affected to commemorate them.

The government said the programme would put support in place for victims, ensure the needs of bereaved families were at the heart of the response, and drive longer-term efforts to bring the community together.

Southport was "struggling to come to terms with such a tragedy on its doorstep", said the mayor of the Liverpool City Region.

"Once the glare of the national media has moved on, it leaves behind a community that needs to come together and rebuild.

"This is a tight knit area and we have already seen that inclusivity and community on full display in the town's response to the mindless violence on Tuesday night.

"It will not happen overnight, but we are determined to restore trust, build on that remarkable resilience - and, above all, ensure that Bebe, Elsie and Alice, and the victims and those traumatised, are never forgotten."

Sir Keir Starmer has announced mental health support for those affected by the Southport attack and a programme of events to help build community cohesion in the area.

Following his second visit to the town today, the prime minister said he "cannot begin to imagine the pain that people are going through" but he was determined to ensure Southport has "all the support they need".

"As a nation, we stand with those who tragically have lost loved ones in the heinous attack in Southport, which ripped through the very fabric of this community and left us all in shock.

"It is truly inspiring to hear of all the ways in which people have come together in the face of such horrors to demonstrate true bravery, resilience and solidarity."

Stop and search powers have been enhanced and extra police officers deployed in Liverpool city centre.

Merseyside Police announced a Section 60 order has been put in place until 4am, allowing officers the right to search people without reasonable grounds in order to prevent violence.

The boost to policing comes after social media accounts were said to be organising a rally and counter-protesters intended to attend.

"We have taken the pro-active measure of introducing a Section 60 in this area in light of the disgraceful disorder we witnessed in Southport on Tuesday evening," said inspector Leigh Price.

A crowd of men injured dozens of officers in a riot outside a Southport mosque on Tuesday, who the prime minister described as a "gang of thugs".

Police have since faced other incidents in Hartlepool, Aldershot and Manchester.

Inspector Price continued: "These extra powers will allow officers to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality as we seek to keep the public safe."

He said residents should expect to see a "highly visible police presence" which he hoped would be reassuring.

Misinformation promoting rallies is spreading mainly through Telegram before being shared to X to gain a bigger audience, says data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire.

Telegram, in particular, has low moderating standards - meaning "anything goes", says Cheshire.

"A lot of this chat around it is clearly racist. When they talk about being concerned citizens or legitimate protest, there are obviously bad actors here who are trying to get people to come to these protests using deceptive tactics."

This includes posters that appear to be made by concerned locals, but in fact all come from the same groups, Cheshire explained.

They are talking about tactics online, too, as well as about selling flares and fireworks to demonstrators.

"It seems like they are really gearing up for this. On the other hand, the number of locations they have - the far-right simply doesn't have the numbers for that."

It has also always been very fractious and often "cannot agree with each other".

For example, some want to target mosques while others don't, said Cheshire.

The protests are "getting a lot of interest online - we will see if that translates to people there on the ground".

A man cried in court as he and his partner admitted joining in the disorder in Hartlepool on Wednesday night.

Steven Mailen, 54, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, and Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Road, admitted violent disorder during a hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said Mailen was "constantly in the face of officers" and was gesticulating towards them, shouting, until he was struck on the leg by an officer's extendable baton.

Sheers, who wept during the hearing, was then bitten on the hip by a police dog, the court heard.

He had been trying to push through the police cordon, shouting and refusing to move away.

The defendants, who have no previous convictions, were granted bail by district judge Helen Cousins to appear before Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on 2 September.

Sheers, formerly a McDonalds worker, was emotional and said: "Thank you judge, thank you."