Sunderland far-right rioters fling horse poo at police as shoppers hide in Aldi

Protesters in Sunderland appear to have turned the police’s horses against them by scooping up the dung and throwing it at officers.

Meanwhile, customers are cowering inside the Aldi opposite Millfield Mosque where this is all taking place.

Riot police have formed a human barrier around the religious and community building.

But they’ve become the targets of bricks, poppers and plant pots thrown by protesters.

Things are relatively quieter in Liverpool where the up to 300 anti-fascist counterdemonstrators vastly outnumber the far-right.

Organisers of the protest targeting the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque, the UK’s first when it opened in 1889, had sold it as a ‘major clash’.

But just 70 have responded to the call to arms, leaving them standing somewhat sheepishly across the road.

Liverpool reputation for chasing out the far-right time after time, trapping them in a train station’s lost luggage, or pelting them with bananas, to the Benny Hill theme tune.

But local anti-fascists have been worried since a riot outside the Suites Hotel, housing asylum seekers, in nearby Kirkby caught them off guard last year.

Then, they found themselves unexpectedly outnumbered by the rioters who set fires, threw projectiles and shouted abuse, leaving counterdemonstrators feeling scared as they were trapped between fences and police.

Bricks lie at the feet of horses mounted by police officers, who’ve come under attack during the protests in Sunderland.

While some protesters stand on the pavement waving handheld Union Jacks as they watch on, others have taken a more violent route.

Pictures show beer splattering the window of a police car as a beer can is thrown at it.

But that’s perhaps a softer projectile than the stones and bricks flying through they air.

A black car, which appears to be a taxi, was surrounded by men wearing balaclavas outside the Holiday Inn near Sunderland City Hall.

They kicked its headlights and pelted it with stones as the air was filled with smoke.

One witness can be heard saying, ‘There’s no need for this at all’, as a car horn honks in the background.

Roughly a mile away from the protest outside Sunderland City Hall, a smaller crowd has gathered outside Masjid e Anwaar e Madinah, otherwise known as Millfield Mosque, on St Mark’s Road.

Some individuals wearing balaclavas or draped in flags have charged at riot police shouting ‘this is our land’ and calling police traitors.

Others have hurled stones and beer cans in their direction.

Mounted police have attempted to push them back.

Protesters have appeared in balaclavas, set off flares and waved around what appears to be a bottle of spirits at a protest outside Sunderland Town Hall.

The protest was only due to the start at 7pm, but already a police car has had its window smashed and been pelted with drinks.

‘Enough is enough’, a promotional post shared on social media by Tommy Robinson had said.

‘Let’s get this country back to normal and stop playing lottery with our children lives.’

Hundreds of people are believed to be at the scene, some of whom are carrying England flags and Union Jacks.

It’s just a 15-minute walk away from the central mosque, causing one local to ‘worry about the community’.

They said: ‘They have brought police in from Newcastle. It’s really concerning that loads of cars are beeping and are supporting them.

‘I expected a large volume of people but it’s concerning that there are children in the crowd.

The Abdullah Quilliam Mosque is hoping for a peaceful discussion with protesters who are due to gather outside this evening.

But Merseyside Police are taking ‘pro-active measures’ by expanding their ability to stop and search people within a certain area of Liverpool, covering most of the city’s mosques.

This evening’s demonstration has been described as a ‘major clash’ in graphics shared in Telegram channels alongside racist and violent content.

It was called after the fatal stabbings in Southport, which prompted a riot on Tuesday night, less than 20 miles to the north of Liverpool.

Inspector Leigh Price said: ‘We have taken the pro-active measure of introducing a Section 60 in this area in light of the disgraceful disorder we witnessed in Southport on Tuesday evening.

‘These extra powers will allow officers to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality as we seek to keep the public safe.

‘People and business owners in the Liverpool area can expect to see a highly visible police presence. I hope their continued presence is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to our officers.’

A burnt out car, a street strewn with bricks, and patches of flames where the debris still smouldered.

Elsewhere, flames could be seen reaching dangerously close to houses along a residential street of redbrick terraced houses.

Those are the scenes shown in footage from the bodycams worn by riot police who batted away ‘missiles’ with their shields during the riot in Southport on Tuesday.

Men can even be seen throwing entire black wheelie bins at police.

Numerous arrests were made during and after the riot, which led to the expansion of police stop and search powers in Southport this week.

‘Anyone who intends to cause future damage and harm to our communities and our officers will be dealt with robustly, using all our available powers’, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.

Community leaders are apprehensive ahead of a planned protest outside a mosque in Liverpool, the first ever opened in the UK, at 8pm tonight.

Promotional material is already describing the demonstration as a ‘major clash’, according to graphics shared on social media.

It harks back to the Victorian era, when crowds pelted stones and manure at the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque’s founders as they left the building.

Anti-fascist demonstrators are gathering outside the face down the threat of violence.

But mosque officials are taking a different approach, offering food, drink and conversation to anyone who attends the protest.

Adam Kelwick said: ‘Bring your concerns in, let’s have a discussion about issues which are affecting our communities and how we can work together to solve them.

‘The things which affect our society also affect us as a Muslim community.’

The Metropolitan Police has imposed a Section 14 condition on another Enough is Enough protest planned in London on Saturday, August 3.

Anyone taking part in the assembly must remain within the shaded area of Piccadilly Circus.

Another gathering also billed as an ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration caused chaos in London on Wednesday night after police officers were attacked and crowds ignored the Section 14 condition in place to march through central London.

Sir Keir Starmer returned to Southport on Friday, visiting the town for the second time this week after Monday’s knife attack.

The Prime Minister met with members of the local community, according to the Liverpool Echo, along with metro mayor Steve Rotheram, Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and representatives from the police, faith groups, health services and the education and voluntary sectors.

He also paid a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where many of the victims of Monday’s attack were treated.

Sir Keir thanked staff for their hard work and professionalism in responding to the attack.

Steven Mailen, 54, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, and Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Road, admitted violent disorder during a hearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said Mailen was ‘constantly in the face of officers’ and was gesticulating towards them, shouting, until he was struck on the leg by an officer’s extendable baton.

His partner Sheers, who wept during the hearing, was then bitten on the hip by a police dog, the court heard.

He had been trying to push through the police cordon, shouting and refusing to move away.

The defendants, who have no previous convictions, were granted bail by District Judge Helen Cousins to appear before Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on September 2.

Sheers, formerly a McDonalds worker, was emotional and said: ‘Thank you judge, thank you.’

Urgent action is needed to tackle the ‘tsunami of lies’ on social media which fanned the flames of protest across the UK, a leading expert on right-wing extremism has said.

Professor Matthew Feldman said that within 30 hours of fake news emerging online about the suspect in the Southport stabbings, it had spread across multiple platforms, and sparked protests that led to 53 police officers being hurt.

He welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of a new ‘national’ response to the violent disorder but called for a corresponding response online.

Prof Feldman said: ‘Tougher laws are needed. There has been much debate about the long delayed Online Harms Bill.

‘I would encourage thinking about a taskforce, not just policing boots on the ground but an internet taskforce that can do the same, not just moving around the country physically, but moving around the platforms to take down misinformation and incitement.

‘We would only be looking at the minor part of the picture if we did not take seriously the way in which misinformation and lies on social media led us to this very heart-breaking point.’

Mosques in Milton Keynes may be targeted in a potential far-right protest in the city.

Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, said: ‘Getting reports of targeting of mosques in Milton Keynes.

‘This is not reflective of our inclusive and diverse city and I absolutely condemn any violent acts.

‘We are an amazing city and we will not let people that engage in this destructive behaviour damage us.’

Three man alleged to have taken part in violent disorder in Hartlepool on Wednesday night have been remanded in custody.

Peter Clark, 47, of no fixed address, was charged with violent disorder and exposure after allegedly showing his buttocks and genitalia to police.

Anthony Allen, 42, of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

James Elliott, 41, of Raby Road, Hartlepool, was with him in the dock, charged with violent disorder.

No pleas were entered to any of the charges.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, told Teesside Magistrates’ Court that 200 people were in a group which initially met at the Cenotaph in Hartlepool on Wednesday evening, and they moved towards mosques and a community centre.

District Judge Helen Cousins refused bail for two of the accused: Anthony Allen and James Elliott.

When the judge gave her decision about Allen, there was an outburst from the public gallery, with someone shouting: ‘Out of order.’

Peter Clark did not apply for bail and all three were told they would next appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 2.

A number of nurseries in Wigan went into lockdown this morning after a false report on social media reported there had been a stabbing.

An alert from one of the nurseries read: ‘There have been posts on social media this morning regarding an incident on Enfield Street.

‘As a result of the alarming reports we have made the decision to put the nursery into a full lockdown. All our children are safe and being well cared for by our fabulous staff.’

A larger than normal emergency response was sent to the scene as an iPhone detected a crash and sent an alert to emergency services.

Following the large response a false report began to circulate on social media alleging the police response was due to a stabbing and that an offender was at large.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the stabbing was a false report.

The Russian Embassy in the UK has denied reports they were involved in the far-right riots this week.

A fake news website with links to Russia was found to have helped spread an incorrect name which led to the violent protests.

The account, called Channel3 Now, masquerades as an American news network.

They published a false claim that the alleged murderer was an asylum seeker called Ali Al-Shakati who was ‘on the MI6 watch list’ and ‘known to mental health services’.

The claims were immediately amplified by Russian state media and far-right influencers Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate.

The suspect has been charged and was named in court as Axel Rudakubana after a judge lifted reporting restictions which would have granted him anonymity until he turned 18.

The security at hotels housing asylum seekers is under ‘continuous review’, the Home Office has said.

It comes as potential far-right protests are being planned across the UK, with asylum seeker accommodation set to be targeted, HOPE not hate found.

A protest is due to be held outside a Holiday inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which is said to house migrants.

The Home Office said: ‘All accommodation sites have security staff and we continually review the security at asylum accommodation sites with providers.

‘When using sites for asylum accommodation, we engage with local police and other community stakeholders as early as possible to identify any tensions.’

HOPE not hate said they have identified at least 35 demonstrations to take place from Friday to Sunday.

Asylum seeker accommodation is set to be targeted in the demonstrations.

Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at HOPE not hate said: ‘More than 30 protests are planned for this coming weekend after violent scenes in Southport.

‘Whilst there is no single organiser fronting these protests, all of them are under a broad anti-multiculturalism, anti-Muslim and anti-Government banner.

‘There’s no telling the size and tone of each event but we are deeply concerned that many will turn violent.

‘We are urging the police to make the necessary arrangements to protect communities targeted by the far right.’

Thames Valley Police said it is aware of a potential planned protest this weekend in High Wycombe and that officers would ‘swiftly respond’ if it escalates into violent disorder.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Thames Valley Police is aware of a potential planned protest this weekend in High Wycombe.

‘We are committed to facilitating a peaceful protest and the right to freedom of expression, while also keeping the community safe and so officers will be out in the area tomorrow.

‘Should this planned peaceful protest escalate into violent disorder seen elsewhere in the country, officers will swiftly respond and deal with those choosing to cause harm to our communities.

‘We have a plan in place for this weekend to deal with any issues that may arise.’