CHILDREN sweeping away debris around the Southport mosque joined the community today in standing against those who brought division and violence to the streets the night before.
Hundreds of far-right hooligans rioted on Tuesday night after a vigil for three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
They smashed a mosque window, looted local shops and set cars on fire.
Garden walls were broken down by thugs, who hurled the bricks at a line of police in front of the mosque.
They were heard chanting “English ’til I die” and “Who the f*** is Allah.”
Merseyside Police said the rioters were “believed to be supporters of the English Defence League” and that more than 50 officers were injured.
Ibrahim Hussein, chairman and imam of Southport mosque, described being trapped in the building while violence erupted outside as “terrifying” and belived rioters would break in and “burn the place down.”
He said the supportive community response has been “humbling.”
Southport Pleasureland chief executive Norman Wallis described the violence as “like a war scene” and said rioters had come from out of town.
Hundreds of grief-stricken residents came together to clear up the wreckage the next day.
Tradesmen also joined in, offering to rebuild walls and replace windows wrecked in the riot for free.
One woman helping clear the debris told the BBC that residents were “absolutely furious” at the riot, prompting hundreds to join in cleaning up.
The clashes followed a vigil for Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were fatally stabbed on Monday.
Five other children are in a critical condition. Two adults were also critically injured during the incident.
A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder.
Police said the attack was not being treated as terror-related, but false information about the attack spread like wildfire and was circulated on far-right accounts prior to the riot.
Misogynist influencer Andrew Tate falsely claimed the attacker was an “undocumented migrant” who arrived by small boat in a post which was viewed 12 million times.
Other unevidenced claims suggested the attacker was Muslim and that the state, rather than following long-established rules which ban the naming of minors, was deliberately protecting his identity for sinister purposes.
A name that the police later confirmed was false was also shared.
Using the attack as an opportunity to ramp up hatred, EDL founder Tommy Robinson posted a video online accusing the government and police of “endangering our country,” claiming that they cared more about migrants “than British children.”
Leader of the right-wing Reform party Nigel Farage joined in inflaming tensions asking “whether the truth is being withheld from us” on social media.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said: “We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK and speculation helps nobody at this time.”
Convicted felon and Wales organiser for the fascist Patriotic Alternative (PA) group Jeff Marsh published a call to protest to thousands of his followers on Telegram.
Birmingham-based David Miles, a core member of PA, was among those who travelled across the country to incite hatred.
Stand Up To Racism co-convener Weyman Bennett said: “The racist thugs who rioted and threw bricks at the Southport Mosque, plus far-right figures including Tommy Robinson who enabled and celebrated it, have shown that they do not care about the hurt and the grief felt by the families of the victims of the brutal attack.
“The far-right want to profit off of the tragedy and took to destroying people’s homes in the local area to do so.
“We must call for unity in our communities at this time. We have to come together to oppose all division.”
The Muslim Council of Britain secretary-general Zara Mohammed said: “At a time of great tragedy, loss, and mourning, we must stand firm against the cynical forces of hatred and division.
“This does not represent our diverse Britain and the people of Southport.
“The government must address the increasing rise of violent far-right extremism targeting Muslim communities.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said rioters had hijacked a vigil for victims.
