Metropolitan Police officers were “attacked and assaulted” with at least two people injured following a “violent protest” in London following the Southport stabbings, police said.
A total of 111 people were arrested because “many of those present had no intention of acting peacefully or cooperating with officers,” the Met said on Thursday.
Bottles, torches and other objects were reportedly thrown at officers. One officer was “punched in the chest and another was kicked multiple times,” both suffering injuries.
Arrests were made for offences including violent disorder, assault on police officers, possession of knives and offensive weapons and violating protest conditions.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “Last night our officers were confronted with unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence, as others across the country have experienced in recent days. They acted with great courage and the highest level of professionalism in the face of hateful behaviour.
“All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those affected by the most horrific attack in Southport. It is outrageous that some have tried to use this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.
“There is absolutely no place for this on our streets. We will ensure that anyone involved in violent disorder and criminal behaviour is apprehended, arrested and brought to justice.”
Another 60 people were arrested during the protest for violating the terms of Article 14 of the Public Order Act of 1986. They have not been taken into custody but are still being investigated.
Further protests took place across the country, including in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
The Prime Minister is hosting senior police chiefs at Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, following violent unrest in several parts of the country.
He is expected to remind police that people who “exploit” the right to protest to “spread hatred” or commit “violent acts” must be met with “the full force of the law”.
Sir Keir Starmer will also commit to working with police forces across the UK to end “senseless violence” following unrest in Southport, London, Hartlepool and elsewhere.
A large protest called ‘Enough is Enough’ was organised in London on Wednesday, with demonstrators clashing with police in Whitehall.
Protesters were seen throwing beer cans and glass bottles at a line of police in riot gear outside Downing Street and throwing flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.
The angry scenes also included loud shouts of “we want our country back” and “Oh Tommy Robinson,” referring to the right-wing activist.
Cleveland police said police in Hartlepool were attacked with missiles, glass bottles and eggs.
A police car was also set on fire during the riots after a large group of people gathered in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool on Wednesday evening.
In Manchester, large numbers of protesters gathered outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road at around 6pm, the Manchester Evening News reported.
About 40 people, including children and men wearing balaclavas, the newspaper said, gathered outside the Oldham Road site in what the newspaper said “appeared to be a protest against the asylum seekers currently being housed at the hotel”.
In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker took to social media to address the violence in her community, saying there was “no justification for disorderly behaviour and the scenes are not representative of Aldershot and Farnborough”.
“I have been in contact with Hampshire Police this evening regarding a significant incident at Potter’s International Hotel in Aldershot where a peaceful protest degenerated into intimidating behaviour,” she said in a statement shared on X.
“I personally visited the scene this evening and have been in contact with the Chief Inspector. This incident was exacerbated by people from outside our community who came here with the intention of causing unrest. I would like to pay tribute to the brave police officers who worked hard to restore order.
“There is no justification for disorderly behaviour and the scenes are not representative of Aldershot and Farnborough. We all support our shared right to protest peacefully, but we will not tolerate people coming to our towns with the determination to cause trouble and divide our community.”
Cleveland police also said eight arrests had been made for various offences including breach of the peace and affray after violence broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday. More arrests are expected.
Road closures have been lifted, but there is still a visible police presence in the area, police said.
Chief Inspector David Sutherland said: “At this stage we believe the protest is linked to the incident in Southport earlier this week.
“Our officers have been confronted with missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests while remaining in the area to protect the safety of the residents of the community.”
In Manchester, councillor John Flanagan responded to the violence on social media, calling those involved in the “sick” incident “mindless idiots”.
“I want to condemn these mindless thugs who are attacking innocent men who are asylum seekers. They have been there for months and we have had no problems. They have been in a safe place,” said the Newton Heath councillor.
“It is sickening to think that they are being targeted for attacks based on their race or their religion. I hope this is not linked to the disgraceful scenes in Southport last night where a mosque was attacked.
“These idiots are attacking innocent people. My first reaction is to contact GMP and support them. The whole city and reasonable people will be shocked and sickened by these actions. Idiots is too mild a word – I hope the police use the full force of the law.
“We cannot allow our country and our city to descend into anarchy, which seems to be fueled by the madness on social media.”
The event follows riots that broke out in Southport on Tuesday after a vigil for three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Police officers in Southport were seriously injured when rocks, boulders and bottles were thrown and cars were set alight during violent protests.
The unrest at the city’s mosque began after false rumors about the suspect circulated online.
In a bid to prevent a second night of rioting, Merseyside Police were given extra powers on Wednesday, under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons.
Community Inspector Doug Chadwick said the public was “shocked and disappointed” by the “disgraceful” scenes of rioting and called on the public to come forward with information about what they had seen.
So far, five people have been arrested over the unrest, which left 53 officers and three police dogs injured.
The unrest arose after a 17-year-old boy was charged with the murder of the three girls.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a man with a knife entered a dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.
Eight other children were injured by stab wounds, five of whom are in critical condition, while two adults were also seriously injured.
The 17-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court, Derby Square, on Thursday, August 1.