Sunderland Rages as Police Station Set Ablaze During Protests

Things got chaotic in Sunderland last night as protesters clashed with police, leading to a police station being set on fire. This unrest is linked to a knife attack that took place in Southport earlier in the week.

The situation escalated quickly when a group of demonstrators, some wearing masks, threw beer cans and stones at officers in riot gear outside a local mosque on St Mark’s Road. Northumbria Police reported that their officers faced serious violence and advised everyone to steer clear of the area.

The aggressive crowd was seen chanting, ‘whose streets, our streets,’ while also throwing beer barrels at the police. Sadly, cars parked in the city center didn’t escape the destruction either, with one being overturned and set ablaze.

Claims surfaced that this unrest was fueled by misinformation circulating on social media regarding the background of the suspect in the Southport knife incident, who is just 17 years old. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed her shock, calling the violent actions ‘thuggery’ and stating that they do not represent the people of Sunderland or their values.

Support for the police came from Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson, who denounced the disorder and emphasized that the city’s reputation shouldn’t be tarnished by a small group of troublemakers. He stood firmly behind the police as they tackled what he termed ‘criminal thuggery.’

Meanwhile, about 200 anti-racist protesters gathered in another part of the city after rumors spread about a potential far-right demonstration. They chanted messages of inclusion and welcome as counter-protests occurred amid the chaos.

A part of the effort to manage the disorder involved the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, who announced that additional prosecutors were brought in over the weekend to ensure that those responsible for the violence would be brought to justice swiftly.