Boy, 13, among 15 arrested after clashes near Knowsley hotel with asylum seekers
Police have arrested 15 people after violent clashes outside a Merseyside hotel housing asylum seekers on Friday night.
Suspects, aged between 13 and 54, have been detained on suspicion of violent disorder following the incident at around 6.30pm during protests at the Suites Hotel in Knowsley.
Missiles including lit fireworks were thrown at officers and one police van was attacked by offenders using hammers before setting it on fire.
An officer and two members of the public were injured in the chaos.
The force is continuing to gather CCTV, drone and other evidence to identify all of those involved and put them before the courts.
Riot as police van on fire, missiles thrown and protesters surround hotel
It comes after members of charity Care4Calais at the scene claimed they were "trapped" and accused hotel staff of not allowing them inside to escape the chaos.
Clare Moseley, founder of the refugee charity, later described the scene as a "war zone.”
A burnt out police van after a demonstration outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley (PA)Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, said: “A number of individuals who turned up at the Suites Hotel last night were intent on using a planned protest to carry out violent and despicable behaviour.
"They turned up armed with hammers and fireworks to cause as much trouble as they could and their actions could have resulted in members of the public and police officers being seriously injured, or worse."
Ms Kennedy went on to say she is aware of "misinformation" spread on social media following an incident earlier in the week.
There was chaos as a protest saw violent clashes with police (Liverpool Echo)
Two officers were injured (Liverpool Echo)Detectives are investigating reports of a man in Kirkby allegedly making "inappropriate advances toward a teenage girl" on Monday, she added.
A man in his 20s was arrested on Thursday in another part of the country on suspicion of a public order offence.
However, a file was submitted to the CPS and he was eventually released with no further action.
Ms Kennedy went on to say violence "is not the way to resolve this" and believes those involved used the earlier incident "as an excuse".
A protest was taking place outside the hotel before violence broke out (Liverpool Echo)"There is no excuse for the violence that was carried out last night and we will arrest anyone who fails to heed this advice," she said.
Hotel asylum seekers 'scared to go outside and can't sleep' after violent riot
Extra officers will be carrying out high visibility policing in the area to reassure local residents and prevent any similar incidents, the force has confirmed.
A Dispersal Order was also put in place from 1pm today for the next 48 hours.
A spokesman for Care4Calais wrote on Twitter last night: "We are deeply distressed a far right protest in Knowsley has led to riots.
Police outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley (PA)"We can’t imagine the terror of the people inside the hotel. Far right protestors have set fire to a police van.
"The situation at the hotel in Knowsley where the far right are demonstrating & we are trapped in the car park still seems out of control.
"The police all ran up the road outside the hotel about 20 mins ago, and didn’t come back. Lots of shouting.
"We are tweeting from the hotel that’s the subject of a far right protest in Knowsley, Liverpool.
"We are trapped in the car park, surrounded by hundreds of far-right protestors who have broken through police cordons.
"Still trapped with counter demonstrators outside the hotel where the far right demo has become violent.
"Police trying to find a way for us to leave safely. People are very frightened: it is shocking to think how refugees in the hotel must be feeling."
Police officers in riot gear holding shields were seen in the area in response to the protests.
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