More than 90 people were arrested after far-right demonstrations descended into riots in towns and cities across the UK on Saturday.
There was unrest in Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Belfast, with missiles thrown, shops looted and police attacked in some places. Other smaller demonstrations elsewhere did not turn violent.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to give police forces the government's "full support" to take action against "extremists" attempting to "sow hate".
Tensions have been high after the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
In Liverpool, bricks, bottles and a flare were thrown at police, one officer was hit in the head when a chair was thrown, and another was kicked and knocked off his motorbike.
Around one thousand anti-immigration protestors, some of whom were shouting Islamophobic slurs, were confronted by counter-protesters.
A few hundred anti-fascist demonstrators gathered near Liverpool’s Lime Street station at lunchtime, calling for unity and tolerance, chanting “refugees are welcome here” and “Nazi scum, off our streets”.
Police in riot gear with dogs struggled to keep the two sides apart and reinforcements were called to try and maintain order.
The unrest continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with fireworks launched towards police officers wearing riot gear.
A library was set on fire in the Walton area of the city and rioters tried to prevent firefighters from putting it out, Merseyside Police said.
Shops were broken into and a number of wheelie bins were set on fire, it added.
The force confirmed a number of officers had been injured in what they described as "serious disorder", adding that two had been taken to hospital - one with a suspected broken nose and one with a suspected broken jaw.
It said 23 people had been arrested.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms said: "The disorder, violence and destruction has no place here in Merseyside, least of all after the tragic events that took place in Southport on Monday".
“Those who engaged in this behaviour bring nothing but shame to themselves and this city. "
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