39 police officers injured in clash in Southport after knife attack

Shortly after hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service for the victims of the Southport knife attack on Monday, police clashed with far-right rioters at a mosque in the town.

According to the police, the demonstrators were supporters of the far-right group English Defense League. Hundreds gathered outside the mosque following speculation on social media that the alleged perpetrator is Muslim. Several of the protesters were wearing masks, and some threw stones and bottles at the police, write The Guardian.

– The offenders destroyed garden walls, so they could throw bricks at our people, and they set fire to and vandalized several cars, says Deputy Police Chief Alex Goss in Merseyside.

On Wednesday, the local ambulance service stated that 39 police officers were injured, and that 27 of them received treatment in hospital. According to the police, there was talk of broken bones and head injuries, among other things. One of the officers was knocked unconscious.

The riot police were equipped with shields and tried to push the protesters back.

– Being attacked

The police believe that several of those who have contributed to the riots come from places other than Southport.

– The evening’s events involve many people who do not live in the area or care about the people who live here, the police write in a press release.

– This is not how you can treat a local community, much less one that is still put out after Monday’s events, says deputy police chief Goss.

On Monday, three children were killed in the attack on a children’s dance event in Southport. Eight children are injured, and the condition of five of them is critical. Two adults are also critically injured.

False rumors about the perpetrator

The alleged perpetrator is a 17-year-old boy who was arrested immediately after the knife attack.

There have been many rumors and speculations about who the 17-year-old is, the police write.

– Some people use this as an excuse to bring violence and unrest to our streets, it says.

False rumors have spread in social media that the perpetrator is a Muslim. An Arabic-sounding name has emerged: Ali-Al-Shakati. However, the police have denied that this is the perpetrator behind the knife attack, write VG.

– Speculation helps no one

Professor of communication and expert on false information, Marcelo Santos, tells the newspaper that bots are behind several of the posts in social media.

– We have already said that the person who was arrested was born in Great Britain. Speculation helps no one right now, the police write.

The perpetrator was born in Cardiff in Wales and is said to have parents from Rwanda, according to several British media, among others BBC.