City protests see two officers hurt and six people arrested

Scuffles broke out and police made repeated charges into the crowd

Two police officers were injured and six people were arrested after "violence and disorder" broke out in Liverpool during two rival protests, police have said.

Merseyside Police said two groups of about 750 protesters, who had been taking part in different protests in the city, met at the Pier Head at about 14:00 BST.

The force said the groups began to move on to The Strand and Church Street, where bricks and bottles were thrown at officers, a kiosk and phone shop were damaged and looted and an officer was pushed off his motorbike and assaulted.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said six people aged between 29 and 58 were held on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage.

The violence broke out after a group who had been taking part in an anti-racism rally outside St George’s Hall faced an anti-immigration demonstration at the Pier Head.

Both protests had been noisy, but relatively peaceful earlier in the day and police had created a buffer zone between the two groups.

However, after a section of those demonstrating at the Pier Head moved on to the Strand, scuffles broke out and police made repeated charges into the crowd.

Both protests had been noisy but relatively peaceful earlier in the day

Officers in riot gear then gradually pushed protesters back towards the Albert Dock, as some of those in the crowd shouted abuse and claimed they were being victimised for "trying to protect our kids".

Merseyside Police, which had introduced a Section 60 Order to increase its stop and search powers in the area, then brought in a Section 34 Order, which grants officers the power to disperse those engaged in antisocial behaviour, "to help combat potential crime".

ACC Sims said one officer had suffered a broken nose, while another had been left with a broken jaw.

She said the protesters' behaviour was "completely unacceptable".

"What should have been a sunny Saturday on the historic waterfront to be enjoyed by people of all ages turned into an afternoon of unashamed disorder and violence," she said.

"We have heard reports of families having to run away from the area, some of whom had brought children to see the Disney Princess cruise ship docked nearby."

She added that her officers had "put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the wider community" and she was "incredibly proud of the bravery, resilience and professionalism they have displayed".

The two groups faced each other on Liverpool's Pier Head

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said she was "appalled" by the violent scenes.

She said what had happened was "not protest".

"It is mindless crime and disorder," she said.

"Those involved should expect to feel the full force of the law."

In a post on X, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said what happened was "mindless thuggery by people looking for an excuse to spew hatred and carry out acts of violence".

"These scenes shame our city and those responsible deserve to feel the full weight of the law," he said.

Liverpool was one of a number of towns and cities across England which saw unrest.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would work with police forces to help ensure "consequences, arrests and prosecutions" for those responsible and warned that anyone engaging in "unacceptable disorder" would pay the price.

A large Stand Up to Racism rally took place on St George's Plateau earlier in the day

The protests came in the wake of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class being fatally stabbed in Southport on Monday.

Violence erupted the following evening in the Merseyside seaside town, with police blaming far-right groups.

False claims have spread online that the person responsible was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat and a Muslim.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 attempted murders and possession of a curved kitchen knife.

The 17-year-old, who was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff and moved to the Southport area in 2013, has no known links to Islam.