Eight people were arrested in Sunderland following a night of rioting and disorder, which included violent clashes and property damage. Three police officers were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the unrest. Reports indicate that a building was set on fire, and a car was overturned and also set alight. The protesters, some of whom wore balaclavas and draped themselves in England flags, targeted police with beer cans and stones in the city centre and a nearby mosque.
Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate condemned the violence, attributing it to far-right and racist elements. While initial reports suggested a police building was on fire, it was later clarified that an adjacent building was affected. The protests, fueled by misinformation about a recent knife attack in Southport, began at Keel Square and featured Islamophobic chants.
In response, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that those inciting violence would face severe consequences and assured full governmental support for police actions. Extra prosecutors have been deployed to handle the situation swiftly.
Local officials, including North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson, condemned the violence and reaffirmed their commitment to community safety and unity. The Tyne and Wear Metro and bus services were disrupted, and a local cinema closed for safety reasons. Education Secretary and Sunderland MP Bridget Phillipson also criticized the violence, insisting that those responsible must face legal action.
In Liverpool, anti-fascist groups outnumbered far-right protesters, leading to a relatively calm situation after initial scuffles. Hope Not Hate reported that up to 35 protests were planned across the UK this weekend, driven by anti-multiculturalism and anti-Muslim sentiments.
