Riots in the English city of Sunderland after the stabbing of minors. (Photo: external source)
EL NUEVO DIARIO, LONDON. – A group of protesters caused riots on Friday in Sunderland, in the northeast of England, where several people set fire to a vehicle and threw stones and beer cans at the police, police reported.
The violent incidents, instigated by a far-right group, began after a planned protest related to the knife attack in Southport, where three girls died when a 17-year-old boy entered a leisure centre in that English town and began stabbing minors who were participating in a summer workshop with music by the singer Taylor Swift.
Hundreds of people gathered in Keel Square in Southampton, some draped in English flags, chanting slogans in support of Tommy Robinson, founder of the far-right English Defence League, and hurling insults against Islam.
To control the situation, law enforcement deployed mounted officers.
However, some protesters, many of whom wore face coverings, turned violent by setting fire to a car while others attacked a mosque with various objects.
North East England Mayor Kim McGuinness told reporters she was “horrified” by the scenes in Sunderland.
“Make no mistake, if your response to tragedy is to use it to commit acts of violence, to abuse others, to attack police and to damage property, you represent nothing but violence. You do not speak for Sunderland. You do not speak for this region,” he stressed.
Sunderland’s Omniplex cinema was forced to close its doors tonight for safety reasons.
Friday’s incidents followed those recorded last Tuesday night in Southport, where a group of far-right supporters also set fire to a vehicle and attacked a mosque.
Far-right groups are reportedly planning further rallies this weekend in several English cities, but police have already warned that they will deploy all necessary force to contain any violent incidents.
In Monday’s attack at the Southport summer centre, in addition to three girls being killed, eight other children and two adults were injured when the attacker entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance class with a knife and began stabbing the children.
The attacker has been identified as Axel Rudakubana, 17, born in Wales to Rwandan parents, who is in custody after being charged with murder and attempted murder.
