Moment rioter gets hit in the head with a brick… and then again where it REALLY hurts during violent clashes with police in Southport
A Southport rioter was forced to drive away in terror after being hit over the head with a brick by other protesters. When he tried to escape, he was hit again in the groin.
The protester, dressed in a gray tracksuit, was filmed ostentatiously walking toward an army of police officers carrying riot shields, before putting his hands on his hips and posing.
But when he tried to provoke the officers, he nearly fell to the ground when a huge brick hit him in the face and back of his head at the same time.
One flying stone bounced off a riot shield and into his face, while another hit the back of his head.
As he tried to walk away and rubbed the back of his head, he was hit in the groin with a third brick. Shouts of ‘f***ing hell boys’ were heard as two other rioters tried to help him out of the crowd.
Rioters took to the streets just an hour after thousands of people gathered at 6pm for a vigil in memory of the three girls killed in the horrific shooting at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday.
The protester was filmed ostentatiously walking towards an army of riot police officers, before putting his hands on his hips and posing
He was then hit in the face and the back of the head with a brick, while one of the bricks was deflected by a riot shield and another hit him from behind.
The protester tried to run away while holding the back of his head amid the violence
But as he walked away, he was hit by another brick – this time in a place that really hurts…
Another protester tried to check on him after seeing him being hit by several rocks
The three girls were identified by police yesterday as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Just metres away, a 32-year-old man was arrested after being caught with a stiletto on Eastbank Street at 6.55pm.
On nearby St Luke’s Street, a group of men surrounded the Southport Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre and began throwing debris at police officers who had formed a protective line around the building.
The thugs, many wearing masks and hoodies, were seen attacking the Muslim prayer site at around 7:45 p.m., smashing windows, after police issued a warning about an “incorrect” name for the alleged attacker that was widely circulated online.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but originally from the nearby Lancashire village of Banks, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
The violence appears to have been sparked by false online claims that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
Merseyside Police said: ‘We urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.’
Local mosque groups condemned the violence against Muslims, adding: ‘WWe must not allow those who want to divide us and sow hatred to use this as an opportunity.’
Riot police hold back protesters near burning police vehicle after disorder breaks out in Southport
A police van was set on fire outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as rioting broke out
A masked man throws a traffic cone at a police officer near a mosque in Southport
A burnt out police van at a mosque in Southport as shocking riots broke out on Tuesday
Merseyside Police confirmed that 22 officers were injured in the violent unrest.
They said eight people were seriously injured, including fractures, cuts, a suspected broken nose and a concussion.
According to police, other officers suffered head and serious facial injuries, and one of them was even knocked unconscious.
The protesters also set fire to civilian cars and garbage containers, threw rocks at the local mosque and vandalized a local supermarket.
Three police dogs were also injured. Police dogs Zoe and Ike suffered leg injuries from rocks thrown at them.
A third dog, PD Quga, who was bitten, strangled and kicked by an attacker earlier this month, suffered burns to her hind leg.
Police have issued a 24-hour Section 60 alert in the area and additional officers will remain on site to provide a visible presence and reassure the community.
The three girls stabbed to death during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class were identified by police yesterday as nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King (L-R)
Three girls were killed in a bloody massacre on Hart Street on Monday. A vigil was held for the victims on Lord Street on Tuesday. While it was going on, a man with a switchblade was arrested on Eastbank Street. Rioting broke out outside a mosque on St Luke’s Road – also on Tuesday
The bylaw, which falls under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives officers greater powers to stop and search people in the area. The bylaw is designed to keep serious violence to a minimum.
Deputy Chief Constable Alex Goss said: ‘Tonight Merseyside Police were confronted with serious violence in Southport and I am proud to see off-duty officers (many of whom had only just finished their shifts) return to the parade to support their colleagues who had shown such courage in the face of continued attack.
‘I would also like to thank officers from Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales Police for their mutual help and support.
‘Unfortunately, the perpetrators destroyed garden walls so they could use the stones to attack our officers. They also set fire to public cars and damaged cars parked in the mosque’s parking lot.
“This is no way to treat a community, especially one that is still reeling from Monday’s events.
‘We are appealing to anyone with information or video footage of those involved in this shocking behaviour to come forward so we can identify and arrest those responsible.
‘Anyone with information can DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
The Prime Minister said rioters in Southport had “hijacked” a vigil for victims and would “face the full force of the law”.
Sir Keir wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘The people of Southport are shocked by the horrors that befell them yesterday.
“They deserve our support and our respect. Those who hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and brutality have insulted the community as it grieves.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the riots outside a mosque in Southport as “violent street attacks by criminals” and called them “appalling”.
Ms Cooper told broadcasters she saw a community “coming together” during her visit to Southport on Tuesday and thanked police for their “heroism”.
Ms Cooper added: ‘That’s why it’s so appalling to see those same police now being attacked on the streets by violent criminals who have no respect for a grieving community.
“It’s a total disgrace. Frankly, this is a time when everyone should be showing respect for a community and for the police.”