[arista]

[Thirty-nine police officers injured in Southport unrest]


[Thirty-nine police officers have been
injured during a protest in Southport hours
after a vigil took place to remember the
victims of a knife attack in which three
children were killed,
the North West Ambulance Service said.

Earlier, Merseyside Police said
eight officers sustained serious injuries
including fractures, lacerations,
a suspected broken nose and concussion.
Other injuries included one officer being knocked
unconscious,
as well as some suffering head and
serious facial injuries.
Three police dogs were also hurt,
with two having bricks thrown at them.

The protest, which police said was believed
to involve English Defence League supporters,
began only a few streets away from
Wednesday's vigil location,
near to a mosque on St Luke's Road in Southport.

Those involved threw bricks at the mosque,
set fire to cars and wheelie bins and caused damage
to a local convenience store, police said.
In total, 27 officers were taken to hospital,
and 12 were treated and discharged
at the scene, the ambulance service said.]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2gyv882nvo