Metropolitan Police officers were “assaulted and assaulted” and at least two were injured following a “violent protest” in London following the Southport shooting, the force said.
A total of 111 people were arrested as “many of those present had no intention of acting peacefully or co-operating with officers”, the Met said on Thursday.
Bottles, flares and other objects were reportedly thrown at officers. One officer was “punched in the chest and another officer was repeatedly kicked”, both of whom were injured.
He was arrested for offenses including violent disorder, assaults on police, possession of knives and offensive weapons and breach of protest conditions.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist: “Last night our officers faced unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence, as have others across the country over the past few days. They acted with courage and the highest levels of professionalism in the face of hateful behaviour.
“All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those affected by the most horrific attack in Southport. It is shameful that some have tried to use this tragedy as a justification for their own violence and criminality.
“There is no place for this on our streets. We will ensure that anyone involved in any violent disorder and criminal behavior is stopped, arrested and brought to justice.”
A further 60 people were arrested during the protest for failing to comply with the conditions of the protest under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. They have not been taken into custody but are still under investigation.
Other protests took place across the country, including in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
The Prime Minister will host senior police chiefs in Downing Street on Thursday evening following violent unrest in various parts of the country.
He is expected to remind the police that people should “exercise” their right to protest to “hate” or “act violently” with the “full force of the law”.
Sir Keir Starmer will also pledge to work in partnership with police forces across the UK to stop “senseless violence” following riots in Southport, London, Hartlepool and elsewhere.
In London, a large protest was held under the title Enough is Enough, and demonstrators clashed with officials in Whitehall on Wednesday.
Demonstrators were seen hurling beer cans and glass bottles at a line of police in riot gear in front of Downing Street and throwing flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.
Angry scenes also included loud chants of “we want our country back” and “Oh Tommy Robinson”, referring to the right-wing activist.
Police in Hartlepool were attacked with missiles, glass bottles and eggs, Cleveland Police said.
A police car was also set alight during the violence after a large group of people gathered in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool on Wednesday evening.
In Manchester, a large number of demonstrators turned out outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road at around 6pm, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Around 40 people, the paper reports including children and men wearing balaclavas, gathered outside the Oldham Road premises in what the paper said “appeared to be a stand against asylum seekers living in currently a hotel”.
In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker took to social media to condemn violence in his community, saying “there is no justification for disorderly behavior and the scenes are not the same as Aldershot and Farnborough”.
“I have been in contact with Hampshire Police this evening regarding a significant incident at Potter’s International Hotel in Aldershot, where a peaceful protest turned into intimidating behaviour,” she said in a statement shared by X.
“I visited the scene myself this afternoon and was in touch with the Chief Inspector. People from outside our community who came here greatly contributed to the excitement of this incident. I want to pay tribute to the brave police who worked hard to restore order.
“There is no excuse for disorderly behavior and the scenes are no different from Aldershot and Farnborough. We all support our shared right to protest peacefully, but we will not stand for people coming into our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community.”
Cleveland police also said they had made eight arrests for various offenses including public order and affray after violence broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday, with more arrests expected.
Road closures have been lifted, but there is still a visible police presence in the area, the force said.
Chief Superintendent David Sutherland said: “At this stage we believe the protest is linked to the incident in Southport earlier this week.
“Our officers have faced missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests while remaining in the area to protect the safety of those living in the community.”
In Manchester, local councilor John Flanagan took to social media to respond to the violence, labeling those involved in the “sick” incident as “mindless”.
“I want to condemn these mindless thugs, attacking innocent men who are asylum seekers. They have been there for months and we have had no issues or problems. They were in a safe place,” said the councilor for Newton Heath.
“It is sickening to think that they are being targeted because of their race or religion, and I hope that this has nothing to do with the disgraceful scenes in Southport where a mosque was attacked last night.
“These idiots are attacking innocent people. My initial reaction is to contact GMP and support them. The entire city and reasonable thinking people will be horrified and sickened by these actions. Idiots are too soft for words – I hope the police use the full force of the law.
“We cannot allow our country and our city to descend into Anarchy, which seems to be driven by madness on social media.”
It comes after violence erupted in Southport on Tuesday following a vigil for three girls who were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Police in Southport suffered serious injuries when bricks, stones and bottles were thrown and cars were set on fire during violent protests.
The disorder erupted near the town’s mosque after false rumors were spread online about the suspect.
In an attempt to avoid a second night of rioting, Merseyside Police were given extra powers, under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, on Wednesday to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons. – their behavior.
Community Inspector Doug Chadwick said the public were “shocked and dismayed” by the “disgraceful” scenes of rioting and asked the public to come forward with information about what they saw.
Five people have been arrested for the riot so far, in which 53 officers and three police dogs have been injured.
The unrest comes because a 17-year-old boy has been accused of the murders of the three girls.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knife went into the dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.
A further eight children suffered knife wounds – five of them in a critical condition – and two adults were also critically injured.
The 17-year-old man has been remanded in custody to appear on Thursday, August 1, at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, Derby Square.