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Seven police officers from Lancashire were injured in the scenes of violence in Southport during Tuesday (30 July).
Lancashire Police say they provided officers ‘by mutual aid’ to assist Merseyside Police after violence flared in St Lukes Road.
During Wednesday (31 July) the community has rebuilt walls and put back together the road which was trashed when right-wing demonstrators descended on the town in the wake of the death of three children.
Read more: Hundreds attend vigil in Southport and community comes together after three girls killed in attack
The police officers from Lancashire suffered a suspected broken hand, cuts, bruises and a concussion.
Deputy Chief Con Sam Mackenzie, of Lancashire Police, said: “Our officers, alongside colleagues from regional forces, were deployed to Southport following a serious escalation in disorder. They were met with violence and thuggery in an incredibly challenging and dangerous disorder area.
“In addition to dozens of Merseyside Police officers who were injured, seven officers from Lancashire Police were injured. All have received medical attention and their welfare addressed in person.
“All officers demonstrated bravery and courage in a very difficult situation, and I would like to thank those officers and their colleagues for their actions.
“We continue to offer our support to Merseyside Police and the community of Southport.”
A Section-60 order is in force across most of Southport for the next 24-hours to quell any potential unrest.
Reassurance patrols in Preston
In Preston then patrols have been stepped up by police in response to concern from Muslim groups in the city.
The Light Foundation, an inter-faith group, said ‘reassurance patrols’ are taking place.
A spokesperson said: “This morning, Light Foundation spoke to the geographic inspector at Lancashire Police based in Preston about the violent disturbances yesterday at a mosque in Southport.
“We have been assured that there is no intelligence to suggest any similar events occurred in Preston.
“As contingency measures, Preston Police will deploy low-level neighbourhood drive-bys at key religious locations, such as mosques and education centres, to ensure that communities feel safe and protected.”
A joint statement by mosques in Preston has been released.
Read more: Staff sent home early as police make knife arrest after reports of brawling in Plungington
A town in mourning, as donations pour in to murdered children
The three child victims of Monday’s attack are being remembered through regular vigils in Southport, as well as flowers and tributes being laid outside The Atkinson.
Online fundraisers are taking place in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar. They were aged six, seven and nine.
A total of £87,000 has been raised across three GoFundMe fundraisers in memory of Alice, Bebe and Elsie. You can find ways to support the families.
Another five children and two adults are in a critical condition and a further three children were also injured.
There’s extensive coverage of the events on the Stand Up For Southport site – run by former Visiter editor Andrew Brown – as well as the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group, and also the Liverpool Echo’s Southport section.
And there’s insightful and powerful writing by our own Jamie Lopez who was caught up in Tuesday evening’s violent scenes, and has spent today rebuilding his front wall alongside neighbours, and there’s also a resonating piece of writing from Patrick Maguire in The Times about how ‘the safest place’ has become tainted by the events which took place in the last 48-hours.
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