Police station firebombed as rioting explodes in Sunderland: Mobs of masked thugs ransack cop HQ,... (original) (raw)

Rampaging yobs torched a police station and looted shops, as hooligans seeking to try and capitalise on the Southport stabbings besieged Sunderland in the latest night of rioting to rock Britain.

Flames were seen engulfing the central police office on Waterloo Place as rioters ransacked the place, as hundreds took to the streets as Britain's summer of discontent trudges on.

Violent blows were dealt between officers and protestors, as bricks and beer cans were flung through the air, and cars were flipped and set alight.

The riots follow previous outbreaks of violence in London and Hartlepool on Wednesday in the wake of the tragic stabbings in Southport on Monday.

Among the hundreds taking to the street in the besieged town in the north east included a shirtless man with a nazi tattoo emblazoned across his chest.

The topless man was filmed launching into a racist tirade, saying: 'This time in your own f***ing country if you're ashamed to be f***ing white and be an Englishman… f*** off.'

It comes as one of the officers desperately fighting to maintain order as the violence spiralled out of control in Sunderland admitted: 'That was bad tonight.'

Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including violent disorder and burglary while three officers were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries, where two remain.

Sunderland Central Police Office was set on fire as riots erupted in Sunderland this evening

Firefighters tackle the blaze at the police facility on Waterloo Place

Officers arrest a rioter after a protest in Sunderland turned violent on Friday night

A rioter arrested in Sunderland following attacks on the city's police station and officers

Another rioter detained by armed officers amid violence in Sunderland town centre

Police arrest a rioter in Sunderland tonight as a fresh wave of violence erupted in the city

Police officers form a wall across a road as protests erupted in Sunderland on Friday night

Sunderland police station was set on fire by a mob of thugs during riots tonight

Firefighters tackle damage from the blaze following violence in Sunderland

Among the thugs was a topless man with a nazi tattoo emblazoned across his chest

The man was seen wearing red braces, with a Swastika on his tattoo-covered back

The man also had 'england' tattooed onto his chest above a union jack. He was filmed launching into a tirade of racist abuse

Footage showed thugs ransacking the police station, smashing furniture and overturning tables

Firefighters and police outside Sunderland Central Police Office in the aftermath of the attack

Earlier in the evening hundreds of protestors set off from Keel Square in Sunderland, in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Despite a significant police presence, the crowd quickly turned violent, as rioters donned in England flag, covered their faces with balaclavas and bandanas.

Northumbria police urged the public to avoid the city centre, as chants rung out of 'whose streets? Our streets.'

Thugs were also seen spraying cans of beer all over a police vehicle in the town centre, while shouting 'let's have it' and 'it's our country'. Another police car was seen with its window smashed.

Others were seen waving union flags and chanting support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, amid concerns that extremist groups are looking to trigger a fresh wave of violence.

It comes as hundreds of mosques are beefing up their security of fears that planned rallies in the wake of the Southport stabbings will spill over into full-on riots this weekend.

Officers with shields were seen protecting the Sunderland's Millfield Mosque as a large mob surrounded the place of worship.

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, condemned the violence and said: 'Criminals attacking the police & stoking disorder on our streets will pay the price for their violence & thuggery.

'The police have the full backing of Government to take the strongest possible action & ensure they face the full force of the law. They do not represent Britain.'

Firefighters in Sunderland cordon off roads while they tackle the inferno set by rioters on the city's police station

Huge flames erupting from Sunderland's Central Police Station after it was attacked by thugs on Friday night

An overturned car was set alight by the thugs in Sunderland city centre

Riots have ignited in Sunderland in the aftermath of the stabbing in Southport. Pictured: An overturned car on fire

Barrels of beer left lying on the floor after the scenes of unrest in Sunderland this evening

Chief Superintendent Helena Barron said the violence was 'utterly deplorable' and said that criminals would be 'dealt with 'robustly'.

She said: 'The shocking scenes we have witnessed in Sunderland this evening are completely unacceptable.

'I want to make it absolutely clear that the disorder, violence and damage which has occurred will not be tolerated.

'During the course of the evening those officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence, which is utterly deplorable.

'A full investigation is now under way to identify anyone else responsible.

'We want to be clear anyone planning to involve themselves in disorder in the future should stay at home.

'We also know the behaviour displayed is in no way representative of our friendly and welcoming region.'

Championship football club also issued a statement condemning the 'shameful scenes'.

'Tonight's shameful scenes do not represent our culture, our history, or our people,' read the statement from the football club.

'Our great city is built on togetherness and acceptance, and Sunderland will forever be for all. We are stronger as one community. Now. Then. Always.'

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary and MP for Houghton and Sunderland South called the riots 'unforgivable' and 'appalling'.

She said: 'The scenes in our city centre tonight are shocking. We have seen unforgivable violence and thuggery.

'The criminals identified in this appalling disorder must be identified, prosecuted and punished with the full force of the law.

'Sunderland is better than this and these thugs do not represent our city.'

In an update on the disorder, Northumbria Police said: 'Our officers are continuing to deal with ongoing disorder and have been subjected to serious violence.

'The scenes that we are seeing are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

'Ensuring the public's safety is our utmost priority.'

Yobs loot and smash into a vape shop in Sunderland as a planned protest became a riot

Thugs smashed into the shop vapelocal.com as violence erupted around the city

Broken glass on the pavement as thugs break into a vape shop in Sunderland

Fresh mayhem has erupted after protesters set an overturned car on fire in Sunderland

Protestors look on as a car is toppled over a set alight during disorder in Sunderland this evening

A yob sprays fire extinguisher foam at armed police in Sunderland city centre on Friday evening

10 Downing Street is lit up in pink on Friday night in remembrance of those killed in the Southport attack

Armed police clash with demonstrators after thugs spray foam over officers

Protesters draped in England flags let off flares in Sunderland town centre

Protesters hurl bricks at police on horseback near an Aldi store

In another picture of tonight's protest, a bus stop was shown smashed with shattered glass covering the pavement. Thugs were also looting a vapes shop as violence erupted.

Protesters from a group called Youth Alliance were seen holding a union jack banner with the words 'Stop mass immigration. Save British Youth. How many more British need to die?'

Yobs were also seen throwing bricks at police on horses.

Another crowd was filmed surrounding and attacking a private hire taxi in the town centre.

The person shooting the video is heard saying 'no need for this at all', as the protesters smash the black vehicle stuck in traffic.

Other thugs were shown making a stand in front of police guarding the mosque, waving flags while topless.

Some protesters argued about 'two-tier policing' as the police threw a protective ring around the building of worship.

Mounted police pushed back demonstrators, some of whom were in masks.

Police arrest a man wearing a balaclava and blue hoodie ahead of the protest

Yobs with face and hair coverings let off flares and wreak havoc in Sunderland

Police with shields protect Millfield Mosque in Sunderland, as places of worship beef up security amid fears of further violence

Protesters in Sunderland cover a police car with beer from cans

Meanwhile, customers in the next door Aldi filmed the scenes on their phones through the shop window.

Police were also seen arresting a man wearing a balaclava, as security tightened up ahead of the planned protest.

Meanwhile, 10 Downing Street in London was lit up in pink in remembrance of the victims killed in the Southport attack.

But flags above the Prime Minister residence were still flying at full mast, rather than the traditional half mast following tragic events.

In a post on X, Tommy Robinson gloated 'you should have listened, Kier' as far-right rioters ransacked Sunderland.

Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said he was 'appalled' by disorder in the city centre on Friday night.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'Our city is not represented by a tiny minority causing trouble.

'(Northumbria Police) have my full support as they respond to criminal thuggery and work to protect all the communities of our city.

'Tomorrow the people of Sunderland will come together and continue to build the bright future that we have - a future where every community of our city feels safe and prospers.'

Another police car had its window smashed by thugs as the protest got underway

Protesters let off flares while gathered in the town's centre for a planned protest

Protesters hold a union jack banner reading 'stop mass immigration. Save British Youth. How many more British need to die'

A bus stop smashed in the centre of Sunderland with shards of glass all over the pavement

A topless protester waves an England flag in front of police officers near Millfield Mosque

Hooded protesters wearing face coverings wave flags. Thugs were heard shouting 'it's our country'

Armed police watch over protesters near an Aldi store in Sunderland

The action is the latest following the stabbing in Southport in which three young children were killed and eight others suffered knife wounds.

Violence erupted after a remembrance vigil for Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, on Tuesday thugs travelled into the seaside town and centred a riot around the local mosque - whose windows were smashed in a brutal attack.

It comes after false online speculation that the three little girls killed in the knife rampage at a Taylor Swift holiday camp died at the hands of an asylum seeker who had travelled to the UK on a boat. The claims are thought to have originated from a Russia-linked fake news outlet.

In Liverpool, a crowd of about 200 anti-racist protesters gathered outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque after rumours of a far-right protest there.

Seventy-year-old Pat, who did not want to give her second name, held a placard saying 'Nans against Nazis'.

She said: 'We're telling them wherever they go, we'll be there. We've never allowed them in the city of Liverpool.'

She said she began protesting 50 years ago, against the National Front.

LIVERPOOL: Police stand guard as protesters gather outside a mosque in they city

LIVERPOOL: Counter protesters against right-wing thugs hold placards saying 'refugees welcome'

Counter protesters in Liverpool gather outside a mosque in Liverpool with a placard reading 'no room for racism'

Police mounted on horseback attempt to control the crowds in Sunderland town centre

Protesters with English and British flags stand around a fountain in Sunderland town centre

Protesters outside an Aldi store in Sunderland as police on horseback attempt to control the crowds

Protesters clash with police on a road in Sunderland following the stabbing in Southport

She added: 'Someone said to me 'you're too old, don't be doing this' but as long as they're here someone's got to do it.'

Muslim, Jewish and Christian religious leaders gathered outside a mosque in Southport on Friday afternoon in a call for communities to reject hatred and stand together.

Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, but violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new 'national' response to the disorder linking police forces across the country.

At least 15 protests have been promoted online, with some calling for participants to take England flags, and a number containing phrases such as 'enough is enough', 'save our kids' or 'stop the boats'.

Yobs draped in flags surround a police vehicle in Sunderland town centre

A flare thrown near uniformed police officers emits blue smoke as crowds gather on streets in the city centre

A protester wearing a balaclava and Sunderland football shirt gestures with his hands during the event on Friday evening

Speaking outside the mosque on Friday evening, Ibrahim Hussein said: 'On Tuesday night I thought I was the unluckiest man in the whole of the country.

'On Friday evening, I feel the luckiest man in the whole of the country.

'Look at all of these beautiful people. Look at all these faces, and different faiths. We have people here from the church and from the synagogue.'

He said he was 'old friends' with some of the other faith leaders.

'But it is not about Southport Mosque, it is not about our suffering,' Mr Hussein said.

'We should have been focused all along about these poor people who have suffered in the most horrific way.

'And we should have been standing here giving them as much support as we can. We should have been standing here, praying for them, supporting them, focusing on them.

'Instead these people try to destroy what is so beautiful about our community.'

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister returned to Southport on Friday, visiting the town for the second time this week after Monday's knife attack.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday a new 'national' response to the disorder linking police forces across the country

Pat, 70, holds up a placard reading 'nans against Nazis' outside a mosque in Liverpool

Crowds gathered outside Liverpool's Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Mosque as far right activists clash with other counter protesters

Sir Keir announced further support for Southport, including mental health support for those affected by the attack and a programme of events to help build community cohesion.

The 17-year-old charged with the murders of three girls in Southport appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, and was named as Axel Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire.

He is charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

Rudakubana is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

He was remanded to youth detention accommodation and will next appear in court in October.