A violent mob brought terror to the streets of Sunderland as they marched on a Mosque, clashing with police, throwing missiles and setting a car and police building ablaze.
Hundreds gathered in Keel Square, many wearing England flags in what began as a peaceful gathering - but with dozens of balaclava-clad rioters and a smoke flare thrown at police tensions soon built.
Marching through the city they chanted, “Whose streets? Our streets” and cheered in support of Tommy Robinson.
A cop car was smashed up and loud bangs let off as tensions began to boil over. Missiles were thrown at officers, one rioter attempted to kick a police horse.
Families and colleagues hid behind the windows of locked shops and an Aldi store in Millfield placed on lockdown with customers stuck inside.
On the other side of the supermarket car park, police, now with riot shields, formed a protective ring around the city’s Masjid e Anwaar e Madinah mosque and began to push back against protestors who hurled bricks, glass, and beer cans at them. The Echo understands one police officer was taken to hospital after being hit in the back with a pointed wooden stake. One member of the press was hit in the back by a flying brick.
At the same time, some called for calm. One woman watching from the sidelines heckled, “stop the violence!”
The mob soon returned to the city centre where a group of teens rolled a parked car before one, no older than 16, set it alight.
Thick black smoke rose above the streets from the cars flipped wreckage as its petrol tank exploded in fireballs as the police helicopter circled overhead. Elsewhere fire extinguishers were turned on police.
Later, the city’s police office was the target of arsonists. Pictures showed flames raging in the building.
Outside the city’s Jaami-Masjid mosque a group of Muslims stood outside to protect their place of worship in case it came under attack. One, just 18, told the Echo: “We’re not looking violence, we’re protecting our mosque.
“We’re British – we get told to go back to our own country, ‘f**k Allah’, we get called rapists.”
Elsewhere the city’s residents reacted with shock. One said: “Fair enough having a demonstration, but keep it peaceful. There’s no point of that – setting cars on fire and throwing things. Just totally ridiculous.
“There’s no need for it. It’s a minority. All these idiots with a mask on.”
Meanwhile, an ex-military man who joined the protest to express what he described as legitimate concerns about immigration said: “I just want my country back. We’re not far right, I hate being called that. It ruins what we’re trying to achieve.
“It’s the first march I’ve been on – I didn’t sign up for this. Of course it will descend into chaos.
“They’re f***ing idiots. They don’t even know why they’re here. I’ve seen kids eight-years-old kicking wingmirrors off and their mams and dads cheering.”
Northumbria Police said in a statement: “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.”
Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said he was appalled by the violent scenes, which he described as “criminal thuggery”.
In a post on X, he said: “I am appalled by the disorder in the centre of Sunderland tonight.
“Our city is not represented by a tiny minority causing trouble.
“Northumbria Police have my full support as they respond to criminal thuggery and work to protect all the communities of our city.
“Tomorrow the people of Sunderland will come together and continue to build the bright future.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "I’m appalled by scenes from Sunderland. 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."
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