Crowds chanting ‘English till I die’ kick down walls and throw bricks and fireworks outside mosque in Southport near where three girls were killed in knife attack: Riot police deployed as officers warn about ‘incorrect’ ID for attacker circulating online

Crowds of people chanting “English till I die” clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport, near where three girls were killed in a horrific stabbing attack on Monday.

Mersyside Police have condemned the “sickening” violence that has broken out amid speculation over the identity of the suspect arrested in connection with the savage attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

The horrific scenes, which saw a police van set alight outside a mosque, come after police issued a warning after an “incorrect” name for the alleged attacker was widely circulated online.

A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but originally from the nearby village of Banks, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The violence appears to have been sparked by false claims that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat, which were circulated online.

Merseyside Police said: ‘We urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.’

Police confirmed that a large group of protesters, believed to be supporters of the English Defence League, began throwing items at a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport at around 7.45pm.

One officer reportedly suffered a broken nose and police vehicles were damaged and set on fire as about 200 protesters took to the streets.

This comes after police today released the names of the three girls stabbed to death: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

They were among 11 children stabbed in a “savage” knife attack that left mothers screaming in fear as they picked up their children.

Five other children, aged six to 11, are in critical condition, as are two adult women, including heroic yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who “bravely tried to protect them”.

As thousands of mourners attended an emotional vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, protests broke out in the streets surrounding Hart Street, where the attack took place.

Angry protesters tore down garden walls and used them as missiles to pelt police, and threw wheelie bins.

A police van was set on fire by protesters. Angry crowds chanted “Stop the boats” and kicked police vans sent to restore order.

Some threw smoke bombs, while men in caps and shorts rushed toward the outnumbered police.

Dozens of riot police vehicles and patrol cars rushed to the scene, while a police helicopter hovered over the incident as the violence continued to spread.

Large groups of men, many masked and hooded, clashed with police, throwing stones, bottles, bricks and fireworks.

Protesters could be heard chanting “No surrender” and “English till I die.”

Several people carried banners with slogans calling for the boats to be stopped.

One of the messages read: ‘Stop the boats! Send them back! Fight for our children! Let’s stand together!’

A woman carrying a banner said the riots were sparked because the man who attacked the children with the knife “was a Muslim”.

She said: ‘We say enough is enough. Why don’t they stop the migrants coming in?

“How many more children are going to be killed because they let them all in? They should be at the borders to stop them.”

Her comments come after incorrect messages from detectives on social media about the identity of the perpetrator were viewed and processed millions of times.

Alex Goss, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said: ‘There has been much speculation and hypothesis surrounding the status of a 17-year-old male currently in custody, which some individuals are using to cause violence and disorder on the streets.

‘We have already said that the arrested person was born in the UK, but speculation at this point does not help anyone.

“It is disgusting to see this happen in a community devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives.”

Downing Street also warned against “unhelpful” speculation amid concerns that false online reports could fuel community tensions.

Officers should be given the space to investigate the case without people guessing about the possible motive or circumstances, said number 10.

Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister was repeatedly asked “How many more children will die?” as he laid flowers at the site of the attack.

Sir Keir Starmer’s brief visit, which lasted about two minutes, was interrupted by some members of the audience who booed him.

As the prime minister walked past, a man shouted, “Here’s your photo opportunity.”

Another shouted, ‘How many more children? Our children are dead and you’re leaving already?’

Other angry bystanders shouted ‘scumbag’, ‘time for change’ and ‘go away, you are not wanted’.

Another woman said: ‘I just found out my girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter was murdered, the person I held as a child, and you can’t do s*** with that.’

And another man shouted, ‘Let the truth come out!’

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said social media companies “must take some responsibility” for certain activities in the aftermath of the attack.

Responding to Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly, she said: ‘I agree with him about the responsibility of each and every one of us. The police must be able to continue this investigation.

‘There will be more questions, but the most important thing is that we all support the police in their investigation now.

‘I also agree with him about the responsibility of social media companies, because we have to acknowledge that things happen on social media that violate their terms and conditions and their obligations. They have to take responsibility for that too.

“This is mainly about young children. It’s about children and their families who are grieving, and the many other children who were involved yesterday and are also dealing with great trauma.”