Police believe far-right disinformation about the suspect that circulated online sparked the riot

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Several police officers in Southport, England, were injured when a riot broke out during a vigil for the victims of the mass stabbing that took place earlier this week at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class.

On Tuesday, July 30, a large group believed to be supporters of the English Defence League, a far-right organization, threw items at a local mosque in the seaside town, Merseyside police said in a statement.

Police later confirmed that more than 50 officers were hurt during what they called a “disorder” that occurred on Tuesday around 7:45 p.m. and lasted until midnight.

‘Always Our Princess:’ Child Victims of Southport Stabbing at Taylor Swift-Themed Event Identified

“Of the 53 injured, 49 were Merseyside Police officers and four were Lancashire Police officers.” police said in a statement shared Wednesday, July 31. “Eight sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion and were treated in hospital.”

“Other officers suffered varying degrees of injury including head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was knocked unconscious,” police said, adding that three police dogs were also injured during the incident.

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According to police, those involved in the violence destroyed garden walls and used those bricks to throw at officers and a local Mosque. The offenders also destroyed a convenience store and set fire to cars and trash cans.

Police have said three children were killed in the stabbing, leaving the local community in mourning. The fatal victims have since been identified as Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9.

According to police, eight other children were injured and five are in critical condition. Two adults injured in the attack also remain in a critical condition.

From left: Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.Courtesy of Merseyside Police

Yoga Teacher Was Critically Injured While Protecting Children During Stabbing at Taylor Swift-Themed Event

“It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives,” Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said in a Tuesday statement.

Goss continued, “In the last 24 hours, we have seen overwhelming support and sympathy from the community and wider Merseyside communities for the families who are currently trying to deal with their loss and care for victims injured during the major incident.”

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The children were attending a Taylor Swift-themed event at a dance school on Hart Street when a 17-year-old boy, armed with a knife, walked into the building and attacked the group on the morning of Monday, July 29, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy previously said.

According to an online flyer, the event was a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class at The Hart Space, which was scheduled to take place between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Monday. The Telegraph reported that the class was advertised for children between the ages 6 and 11.

Taylor Swift at a ‘Complete Loss’ After Southport Stabbing That Left 3 Children Dead at Swift-Themed Event

Enlighten with Leanne/Facebook

Soon after, the teenage suspect, who was originally from Cardiff, Wales, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, police said. It’s unclear if he has been formally charged.

While police have yet to reveal the suspect’s name, the New York Times reports that disinformation about the suspect’s identity was amplified online by far-right accounts.

Authorities have said the motive remains unclear and the attack is not being treated as terror-related.

Witness Says Scene of Stabbing at Taylor Swift-Themed Event Was ‘Worst Thing I’ve Ever Seen’

“There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets,” Goss said.

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“We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK and speculation helps nobody at this time.”

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The violence that took place on Tuesday led to the arrests of four unidentified men between the ages of 31 and 39, police said. They were taken into custody on suspicion of violent disorder, with the exception of one man, who was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article.

Police said they will increase police presence in the town in the coming days as a result of the violence and are asking the public for information or video footage of the unrest to potentially make additional arrests.

“The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a Tuesday post on X, formerly Twitter. “They deserve our support and our respect.”