Four charged over Blackpool disorder
Disorder broke out in Blackpool on Saturday
- Published
Four people have been charged in connection with disorder in Lancashire after the Southport stabbing attack.
Twenty people were arrested in Blackpool after a mob of nearly 1,000 people were involved in unrest in the resort on Saturday, Lancashire Police said.
Bottles and chairs were thrown and officers are investigating reports of looting in Houndshill Shopping Centre.
The force's deputy chief constable said the unrest in the resort "had nothing to do with legitimate protest or the tragic events" in Southport on 29 July.
CCTV review
An 18-year-old has been charged with a racially aggravated public order and a man, 41, has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker.
A 32-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
All four, who are from Blackpool, were due to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court earlier.
One person was arrested in Blackburn and another in Preston in connection with smaller incidents of unrest there, the force said.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam Mackenzie said: "Four people have been charged, and a number of people have been arrested, however this is only the beginning of our enquiries.
"We have a dedicated team reviewing CCTV, and I expect there to be further arrests."
He added: "We will not tolerate this behaviour in our county, and we will identify you, find you and bring you to justice if you are committing these crimes."
"The scenes in Blackpool we saw on Saturday, by those intent on causing disorder, has nothing to do with legitimate protest or the tragic events of last Monday."
He added that the support shown to police officers from local communities had been "greatly appreciated".
Eighteen of those held have since been bailed.
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