Police officers have sustained injuries amid continued violence in Plymouth, marking the seventh day of unrest following the Southport stabbings. More than 370 arrests have been made across various cities, with the situation showing no signs of abating.
Devon and Cornwall Police reported that several officers were injured and two members of the public were hospitalized during the latest clashes in Plymouth. The disturbances began when bricks and fireworks were hurled at officers trying to manage rival demonstrations in the Devon port city. The violence led to six arrests in Plymouth.
In Southport, a peaceful vigil was held in memory of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who were killed in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club. Hundreds attended the vigil, where children played with bubbles and attendees left flowers and heart-shaped balloons to honor the victims. Merseyside Police reported that one child involved in the incident remains hospitalized, though all other patients have been discharged.
The unrest has also spread to Birmingham, where Sky News reported an attack on one of its vans by a knife-wielding man. The journalists had observed a large group of Muslim men preparing to “defend” their area from a rumored far-right protest.
In Plymouth, anti-immigration protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators holding signs reading “No Place for Hate” and “Say No to Nazis.” A police van was damaged, and large pieces of masonry were thrown at officers. Superintendent Russ Dawe confirmed that arrests were made for various public order offenses and assaults.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that a “standing army” of specialist police officers would be deployed to tackle the rioting, although he rejected calls to recall Parliament. Starmer emphasized the need for police to perform their duties effectively, despite mounting pressure from MPs to resume parliamentary sessions.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) anticipates that the number of arrests, currently at 378, will continue to rise. In response to the ongoing violence, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the courts were on “standby” for swift justice. However, concerns have been raised about the speed of legal proceedings, with some suspects facing court dates weeks away.
Elsewhere, defendants have appeared before magistrates in Belfast, Sheffield, Liverpool, and South Tyneside. Judges condemned the “disgraceful” and “large-scale mob violence,” noting that some individuals took advantage of the unrest to commit additional crimes.