39 British police officers injured in Southport violence

Dozens of police officers were injured in violent clashes as protesters outside a mosque in Southport threw bricks, stones and other objects at police. The local health authority said the clashes left 39 officers injured, including eight with broken bones, lacerations, suspected broken noses and concussions. Others suffered head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was left unconscious.

Tensions have been high in Southport following a knife attack on the afternoon of 29 July at a children’s yoga and dance class at Hart Space. Two girls, aged six and seven, died in the attack and a nine-year-old girl died after being taken to hospital on 30 July. A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack.

In a statement, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said misinformation about the incident had been widely shared in the past 24 hours. She warned against using the murder of three young girls to incite division and spread misinformation on social platforms.