Terrified families who brought their children to see a Disney Princess cruise in Liverpool fled for their lives today after a mob of 1,500 thugs clashed with police.
Running clashes between the mob and officers in the Merseyside city left two officers in hospital with a suspected broken jaw and broken nose, as yobs threw bricks and looted stores.
Families with young children were forced to run from the area – including visiting tourists who had brought their kids to see the Disney Princess cruise ship docked nearby.
Six people between 29 and 58 have been arrested as streets were locked down with 750 yobs and another 750 counter protesters took over the streets.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, who led today’s policing operation, said: ‘What should have been a sunny Saturday on the historic waterfront to be enjoyed by people of all ages turned into an afternoon of unashamed disorder and violence, which potentially put decent members of the public, including children, at risk.
A protestor holds a fire extinguisher in Liverpool, where there have been tense clashes with police
LIVERPOOL: Police officers attend to a shell-shocked colleague after a face-off with protesters
The Disney Dream has 18 decks, holds 4,000 passengers and includes a nine-hole mini-golf course, a full-sized basketball court, several pools, hot tubs and the first water coaster at sea, called The AquaDuck
A young man throws a brick at lines of police in Liverpool, as riots in the city close to the Southport stabbing turned violent
Rubble lies at the feet of police officers thrown by protesters in Liverpool, amid horrifying violence
People react as a police officer falls while facing protesters throwing bricks and beverage cans outside the Liver Building in Liverpool
‘We have heard reports of families having to run away from the area, some of whom had brought children to see the Disney Princess cruise ship docked nearby.
‘This disorder, violence and destruction has no place here in Merseyside, least of all after the tragic events that took place in Southport on Monday.’
It comes as riots have flared throughout the country, fuelled by misinformation following the killing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop earlier this week.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged his ‘full support’ for police to take action against ‘extremists’ attempting to ‘sow hate’ by intimidating communities – as he held emergency talks with ministers over the unrest across England.
But forces across the country have reported injuries among their ranks – with sick yobs pictured chucking bricks and beating officers as they try to defend the nation’s streets.
Liverpool City region Mayor Steve Rotheram said in a statement: ‘Let’s call this out for what it is: mindless thuggery by people looking for an excuse to spew hatred and carry out acts of violence.
‘Families and tourists chased through the streets. Children traumatised. And the very police who ran towards the scene in Southport now subjected to assault and abuse.
‘It’s not on – especially while our region is still trying to come to terms with Monday’s tragic events.
Police officers try to restrain a protester in Liverpool during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration
LIVERPOOL: Photos show officers kicking a flare away after it was launched into the crowd
Masked thugs threw bricks at officers in shocking scenes as cops in riot gear attempted to quell the chaos
A phone shop and a kiosk at the Liverpool One shopping complex were damaged, broken into and looted
‘These scenes shame our city and those responsible deserve to feel the full weight of the law.’
One striking photo showed a shell-shocked officer staring into the camera as her colleagues tended to her, while further video saw a lone cop forced off his motorbike and beaten by a hoard of thugs in Liverpool.
A phone shop and a kiosk at the Liverpool One shopping complex were damaged, broken into and looted.
Thugs armed with fire extinguishers lobbed bricks and bottles at police as they tried to defend their city’s streets.
The Disney Dream has 18 decks, holds 4,000 passengers and includes a nine-hole mini-golf course, a full-sized basketball court, several pools, hot tubs and the first water coaster at sea, called The AquaDuck.
The ship has held previous events when it has visited Liverpool, including a firework display and children getting to meet their favourite characters.
More than 35 ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstrations are planned across the UK this weekend, with several counter-protests by groups such as Unite Against Fascism and Stand Up to Racism also set to take place.
LIVERPOOL: Chants of ‘save our kids’ and ‘stop the boats’ were heard from crowds gathered closer to the waterfront in Liverpool as protests began this afternoon
Today, 24 rallies are taking place – 22 of which are Enough is Enough protests, one an anti-racist protest and one is said to be a peaceful vigil.
Widespread disruption has torn through the country this week in the wake of the Southport stabbings, where three little girls were tragically killed.
The riots in cities including London and Hartlepool are thought to be triggered by misinformation spread online as to the identity of the teenager suspected of killing Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Axel Rudakubana, 17, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, was eventually named as the suspect in a bid to stop the chaos.
Southport locals – including Elsie’s mother – have desperately pleaded for the violence to stop to no avail.