Riots broke out late Friday in Sunderland, where British police officers were subjected to “significant and serious levels of violence” according to police, the latest clashes following the murder of three young girls earlier this week.
3 min
Footage circulating on social media showed hundreds of people rampaging through Sunderland city centre in north-east England, attacking police and setting fire to at least one car. Three officers were hospitalised and eight people arrested, police said. Over the course of the evening, these officers were confronted with significant and serious levels of violence, which is absolutely deplorable. “We are very sorry,” Northumbria Police chief Helena Barron said in a statement, adding that two of the officers remained in hospital.
“ The shocking scenes we witnessed in Sunderland this (Friday) evening are totally unacceptable. “, she insisted. These facts revive the concern of a return of the violence which has marred the country during the week, while Thursday evening had been calm.
Risk of a tense weekend
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper promised on X that the rioters ” will pay the price for their violence and thuggish behavior “. “ The police have the full support of the government to act in the most energetic manner possible and ensure that the full force of the law is brought to bear. “, she added, assuring that the rioters ” do not represent Britain “.
The fresh outbreak of violence comes as police prepare for a tense weekend. In London in particular, the Metropolitan Police said they had ” increase “its workforce” To reassure ” the population, while a pro-Palestinian march is planned in the capital as well as an anti-immigration rally.
Merseyside Police, including around 50 officers who were injured in clashes on Tuesday in Southport, the town in the northwest of England mourning the knife attack the day beforealso said it was prepared to deal with possible further clashes, and deployed additional personnel to Liverpool city centre. The clashes in Southport, where a mosque was targeted, led officials at Muslim places of worship to step up security.
Riots fueled by the “ far-right hatred “, according to the Prime Minister
Between 200 and 300 people – supporters of the far-right anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL) movement according to police – took part in clashes on Tuesday, amid rumours and speculation shared online about the religion, identity or origin of the perpetrator. A 17-year-old suspect, Axel Rudakubana, has been charged with murder and attempted murder and taken into custody. On Wednesday, several hundred people, holding British flags and shouting anti-immigration slogans, protested in a tense atmosphere outside Downing Street, leading to 111 arrests.
Police forces are anticipating protests in several cities, including Nottingham (central England), Rotherham (north), Cardiff (Wales), and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer showed his firmness and support for the police after the increase in gatherings marred by violence, “ clearly » powered by the « far-right hatred “.
Read alsoUK: Southport march after knife attack turns into riot