Sunderland police station set on fire as rioters hurl beer barrels at police
Sunderland Central Police Station on Waterloo Place in the city centre was set on fire by protestors on Friday evening as thugs took to the streets over Monday’s attacks in Southport
Sunderland’s central police station has been set on fire amidst violent protests in the city.
Multiple images and video show the police station ablaze amidst a night of shameful violence in the city on Friday. Demonstrators have been seen hurling beer barrels at officers, attacking a police vehicle and setting an overturned car ablaze in horrifying scenes similar to those in Southport on Tuesday night.
A police helicopter hovered above the city on Friday evening as demonstrators were heard shouting "save our kids", "we want our country back" and "who the **** is Allah?". A protective ring was then thrown around a nearby mosque by police after it was approached by some of the protestors.
Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League who were named as being involved in Tuesday’s violence, appeared to goad the Prime Minister over images of the fire on Friday night. Posting video of the blaze on X, Robinson, a convicted criminal whos real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, wrote: "You should’ve listened @Keir_Starmer."
Shops in Sunderland’s city centre were also understood to have been looted as footage showed a storefront with its glass smashed through as people ran inside.
Fire fighters rushed to the scene after the city’s central police station was torched in the violence ( Image: TERRY BLACKBURN / BACKGRID)
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness slammed the protests as "thuggery". "I’m appalled by scenes from Sunderland," she said. "Make no mistake, if your response to tragedy is to use it to commit violence, to abuse others, attack the police and damage property you stand for nothing except thuggery.
"It’s not protest. It’s crime and disorder. You don’t speak for Sunderland. You don’t speak for this region. Those grieving in Southport will take no comfort from this."
Northumbria Police has said: "Our officers are continuing to deal with ongoing disorder and have been subjected to serious violence. The scenes that we are seeing are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Ensuring the public’s safety is our utmost priority."
Protestors celebrate next to a burning upturned car in Sunderland city centre amidst Friday’s riots ( Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Sunderland is just the latest UK location to see unrest this week following the stabbings in Southport on Monday which killed Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Alguiar, as well as leaving eight other children and two adults injured. Far-right and anti-immigration mobs have also taken to the streets in London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot with more than 100 people already arrested over the disorder.
A fresh wave of protests is also expected across several UK locations this weekend. The Mirror has approached Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service for more information.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
