Fears of more riots after far right hijack Southport grief

Police were last night braced for more violence after far-right protesters this week hijacked the murders of three schoolgirls in Southport to launch riots which left 50 officers injured.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN BARNEY DAVIS TARA COBHAM

Far-right thugs were accused of using the horrific stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class to "whip up hatred" as misinformation about the identity of the suspected knifeman spread like wildfire on social media.

There have been calls for the government to come down hard on those spreading misleading information as Merseyside Police called in support from other forces amid fears of further action. The grieving mother of seven-year-old stabbing victim Elsie Dot Stancombe begged for a halt to the violence amid calls for action to stop more clashes.

Chief constable Serena Kennedy said she understood the community in Southport was really worried about repeat violence on Wednesday as the force prepared for more protests.

Anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate also warned of farright groups preparing possible demonstrations elsewhere across the country over the coming days, including London, Aldershot, Sunderland, Hull, Liverpool, Cardiff and Manchester.

In the capital the Metropolitan Police set out public order conditions for a protest badged “Enough is Enough” on Whitehall at 7pm on Wednesday, warning demonstrators to act “calmly and within the law”.

The home secretary is understood to be reviewing whether the far-right English Defence League founded by Tommy Robinson should be made a proscribed terrorist organisation, although the official group is thought to have been disbanded. The group was linked to Tuesday night’s violence.

Meanwhile former security minister Stephen McPartland pointed the finger at Russia, suggesting Putin’s regime could be behind the misinformation campaign which is “part of the Russian playbook”.