A riot has broken out in Southport (Image: Getty)
Rioting thugs have “no respect” for the grieving people of Southport, Yvette Cooper blasted.
The Home Secretary said the sick 'protesters', who threw bricks and bins at police officers, were carrying out “horrific attacks”.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were all fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured, police said.
But far-right thugs targeted a mosque in Southport, chanting slogans, torching a police van and hurling objects at officers in another brazen case of wanton violence after fake news about the suspect spread online.
Police vans and officers had stood guard outside the Southport Islamic Society Mosque, amid chants of “No surrender!” and “English till I die!” from sections of the crowd.
Police were attacked by a mob (Image: Getty)
The protest begun outside a mosque (Image: Getty)
Ms Cooper said it was "appalling" police officers in Southport were facing attacks from "thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community", adding: "It's a total disgrace".
She added: "I think everyone should be showing some respect for the community that is grieving and also for the police who are pursuing an urgent criminal investigation now, and who showed such heroism and bravery yesterday in the face of these horrific attacks.
"I think everyone needs to support the police in that work, and frankly the scenes of thuggery that we have seen on the streets of Southport this evening bear no relation to the way in which the Southport community has been coming together to support each other and to support grieving families.
"We need to see some respect for the grieving community and for the police in their urgent work."
The Home Secretary went further, declaring that those taking part in the chaos will face the "full force of the law".
She said: "These disgraceful scenes of violence and disorder we are witnessing this evening, with attacks on the Merseyside Police and a local mosque, are completely appalling. Those responsible will face the full force of the law.
“The community of Southport are reeling from a horrifying ordeal and families are grieving. This violent thuggery, which has overshadowed a peaceful vigil for three little girls, is an insult to the community and to all those who need the space to process what has happened and to heal.
“It is appalling that the local police, who have already dealt with extraordinarily difficult circumstances this week, and are undertaking an urgent criminal investigation, should be on the receiving end of violence and abuse.
“Our focus must remain on supporting the police in their urgent criminal investigation into yesterday’s attack and on supporting the families and community who have faced such tragedy and deserve everyone’s prayers tonight.”
Protests got out of control and descended into chaos (Image: Getty)
Police officers were injured by the mob (Image: Getty)
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Fires were set by protesters as the violence escalated (Image: Getty)
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Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said officers had faced violence from "thugs" on Tuesday evening.
Hundreds of people took part in a peaceful vigil on Tuesday evening outside Southport's Atkinson arts venue, with many in tears as they laid flowers and cards of remembrance.
The vigil was followed by a separate protest outside a local mosque as demonstrators chanting far-right slogans clashed with police in St Luke's Road.
Merseyside Police it believed the English Defence League was behind the violent protests that have broken out outside the mosque.
Riot police and dogs units were deployed to bring the crowd under control, after officers sustained injuries including one with a suspected broken nose.
A police statement said: “At around 7.45pm, a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League – began to throw items towards a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport.
“Officers who are deployed are currently dealing with criminal behaviour and violence with bottles and wheelie bins being thrown at them.
The statement added: “As a result, an officer has suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set alight.
“Additional patrols are now in attendance, including the Dog Section.”
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Ms Cooper earlier warned against using the killing of three schoolgirls to “stir up division” and spread misinformation online.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, she told MPs: “False information has already been extensively shared in the last 24 hours. Those who do this for their own purposes risk undermining a crucial criminal investigation and I ask everyone to show some respect for the community in Southport and for families who are grieving and in trauma."
False rumours have circulated stating that the suspect arrested in connection with the atrocity was a Channel migrant already on MI6's watchlist.
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