Man admits role in violent disorder as 22 charged

A total of 38 people have now been arrested in connection with the city centre unrest

A 30-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after unrest in Bristol.

John Matthews, of Knowle, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court earlier. He is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

During a policing operation on Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police arrested three further people on suspicion of violent disorder after unrest in the city centre on 3 August. They are aged 26, 33 and 43 years old.

Det Insp Peter Walker say they remain "relentless" in ensuring those responsible are "brought to justice".

Police have now arrested a total of 38 people, 22 have been charged, with nine people handed prison sentences.

Hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group had gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park when the widespread disorder broke out.

Police have warned other suspects can expect "a knock on the door soon"

The protests were sparked following the killings of three young girls in a knife attack at a children's dance workshop in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

Demonstrations became volatile after false claims were spread online about the person responsible.

After analysing more than 300 hours of CCTV footage from across the city, police have managed to identify nearly 40 people who displayed "racist and abusive" behaviour.

However, Mr Walker says there is still plenty more to be done.

"It's very important to provide that public reassurance, to make sure we deal robustly with the disorder which has happened on our streets.

"We've consistently said we will identify people responsible for this unnecessary disorder and we will bring them to justice and put them before the courts," he said.