Police clash with a violent crowd gathered near the site of UK stabbing attack

31/7/2024 7:35

        Far-right protesters fueled by anger and false online rumors hurled bottles and stones at officers and set a police van ablaze Tuesday outside a northwest England mosque near where >three girls were fatally stabbed a day earlier.
        
        Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "thuggery" and said the crowd had hijacked what had earlier been a peaceful vigil attended by hundreds in the center of Southport to mourn the dead and 10 surviving stabbing victims, seven of whom were in critical condition.
        
        Police said the violent crowd was believed to be supporters of the English Defence League, a far-right group, and the unrest was inspired by rumors about the identity of the teenage suspect arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.