Shameless thugs set a library and foodbank ablaze, target middle eastern cafes and set fire to looted shops as anarchy descends in flashpoints across Liverpool, Hull, Manchester and Belfast – with more violence expected today

Britain was ablaze again last night as shameless far-right thugs took to the streets to torch buildings and loot shops in another night of violent chaos. 

Anarchy descended onto the streets of Liverpool, Hull, Manchester and Belfast as riots broke out once more, with police forces across the country bracing for disorder again tonight.

A community library on the Merseyside that only opened last year after months of fundraising was set on fire as more than 300 people descended on the streets of a deprived city suburb. 

As firefighters tried to put on the flames that engulfed Spellow Lane Library Hub – which also functions as a food bank – rioters threw a missile at the engine, before breaking the rear window of a nearby cab.

One officer was shoved off his motorbike while another was looked after by colleagues after appearing shell-shocked following a violent confrontation with a protester.

Elsewhere, shameless looters took advantage of the violent mayhem, stealing everything from phones, shoes and wine from local shops.

In Hull, a Shoezone was pictured with smashed out windows with a fire raging inside. Those involved were seen carelessly trading Crocs on the side of the road while chaos ensued.

Meanwhile, in Belfast stores were shamelessly set on fire and destroyed – with photos from outside one café showing yobs smashing their benches on the ground.

It comes as the country has been engulfed by a week of violent riots, sparked by the Southport stabbing frenzy at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party left three little girls dead on Monday. 

Tensions boiled over after misinformation about the identity of who was responsible was spread, with mass mayhem breaking out in towns and cities across the country, with anti-immigration protesters taking to the streets.

Violence last night broke out in Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast – with many police forces being pushed to breaking point.

Protesters tried to kick down police officer’s riot gear, while other demonstrators threw objects at their shields.  

Looters took advantage of the chaos, stealing phones, shoes and wine from the shelves of every-day stores, smashing their windows with bricks and stones. 

In Liverpool, shameless yobs squealed ‘get the phones! Get the phones!’ as a group surrounded and battered their way into a phone repair and vape shop in the city centre.

Kicking the shutters with the feet and wrenching them up in a wild frenzy, the mob battered at the glass with what appeared to be a bollard before leaving the road outside strewn with packaging after they emptied the shelves.

Meanwhile, in Hull a Shoezone was pictured with smashed windows and a raging fire inside, while a Greggs and a Specsavers had also been targeted by men with face coverings throwing stones. 

An O2 store was also looted in the city, after a yob in an England shirt smashed the windows with a metal stool, before leaving with handfuls of gear. 

As he left, a young boy could be seen smashing one of the displays in a senseless act of destruction while one man yelled ‘this is England’.

And in Manchester a Sainsbury’s Local was forced to shut after it was ‘stormed’ by rioters, with eyewitnesses saying they saw the mob ‘grabbing items and throwing them’ from the city centre store.

In south Belfast a café and a supermarket were left badly damaged after being set on fire during an anti-immigration protest.

A number of burnt out cars were seen on the road as officers tried to deal with the disorder in the Donegall Road area. 

Supermarket manager Bashir’s business was extensively damaged by fire, telling reports the Islamic community in the city was being targetted. 

He said: ‘People attacked this place, racism against Islam and Muslims, especially the Muslim community.’

He added: ‘All of that happened and the police did nothing, I am telling you the truth. What kind of police are letting the people burn everything down?’ 

The business owner was clearly emotional when asked about his reaction to the attack on his shop.

He said: ‘How do I feel? I can’t describe it, empty mind, we couldn’t even sleep (last night), the words, I can’t even describe what has happened to be honest. There is no message for people like this.

‘When people do this, when people do something like this, you think they will accept the message?’

Emergency services are now bracing themselves for more outbursts today with rallies planned in Rotherham, Rushmoor, Weymouth, Middlesborough and Lancaster this afternoon.  

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged his ‘full support’ for police to take action against ‘extremists’ attempting to ‘sow hate’ by intimidating communities – as he held emergency talks with ministers over the unrest in parts of England.

And Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said people involved in the clashes ‘will pay the price’ and that ‘criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets’. 

But forces across the country have reported injuries among their ranks – with sick yobs pictured chucking bricks and beating officers as they try to defend the nation’s streets.

One striking photo showed a shell-shocked officer staring into the camera as her colleagues tended to her, while further video saw a lone cop forced off his motorbike and beaten by a hoard of thugs in Liverpool.

Running clashes between the mob and officers in the Merseyside city left two officers in hospital with a suspected broken jaw and broken nose, while families visiting to see a Disney Princess cruise ship fled in terror from gangs of thugs.

A total of 23 people were arrested on Saturday, Merseyside Police said, including 12 arrests for the disorder in the city centre, nine arrests for the disorder on County Road and two arrests in connection with the disorder in Southport.

One officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.

The community living around Spellow Lane Library Hub this morning were heartbroken to see the asset destroyed.

Around 300 people descended onto County Road in Walton – a few miles away from the city centre – around 8pm, with officers later arresting 23. One officer was knocked off his motorbike while other demonstrators kicked riot shields. 

Spellow Lane Library Hub was opened last year to provide routes into education and work for those living in the community.

A ribbon was cut by the city’s Lord Mayor last year alongside a group of beaming primary school children as the library opened after the community and local Government £900,000 for its rebuilding.

Videos from last nights mayhem, however, showed flames pouring out of the building, rising into the sky. Police said rioters tried to prevent firefighters from accessing the fire, throwing a missile at the fire engine and breaking the rear window of the cab.

‘I cannot believe what I am seeing,’ one wrote. ‘Spellow library played a huge part in my upbringing. Then again when I needed help as an adult. What the f*** is going on?’

Another added: ‘Spellow Library in flames. An important community hub serving people that have little to begin with. This is pure thug behaviour.’

A third said: ‘Spellow Library on County Road in Liverpool has been set on fire by idiotic rioters. It had only just been reopened after a big refurbishment. This is not a wealthy community. Why destroy some of the few good things in it?’

‘The Spellow is a library which reopened last year and provides support for people of all abilities to gain education and a path to employment. It [is] truly awful. I fought for years for this hub and now [it’s] destroyed.’ 

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss called the behaviour of protesters ‘deplorable’, adding: ‘The impact of the disorder will be devastating for the people of Walton, but I promise that we are doing everything in our power to arrest those involved and bring them to justice.’

Merseyside Police also said a 58-year-old man has been charged with two offences following the violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday.

Derek Drummond of Pool Street, Southport, has been charged with violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker. He will appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Monday, August 5, police said.

In Hull, Humberside Police said there were 20 people arrested, three police officers injured and shops looted and burned after a mob attacked a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said: ‘The right to lawful protest is a part of democracy, which my officers upheld, however, we will not accept the senseless vandalism, antisocial behaviour and sheer violence that has been brought to our streets.’

Businesses were targeted in Belfast where police mounted a significant security operation during a lengthy confrontation between anti-Islamic protesters and those taking part in an anti-racist rally at Belfast City Hall during which fireworks and other missiles were thrown.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they were treating reports of criminal damage as hate crimes and had made two arrests.

A number of social messages during the week had been shared asking for people to gather and block roads in the greater Belfast area and elsewhere in the wake of the murders of three young children in Southport.

Stormont leaders including First Minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Justice Minister Naomi Long have condemned the violence in Belfast.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn praised the police for their response to the unrest.

DUP MLA Edwin Poots said many of those involved were not from south Belfast. 

He said: ‘The violence witnessed in south Belfast is totally wrong and unacceptable. Many of those engaged in the violence are not local and many in the local community are expressing their unhappiness at the rioting.

‘People are angry and frustrated. Over the course of the last year councillor Tracy Kelly and I have raised many issues affecting communities in south Belfast, which Government bodies have largely ignored.

‘Acts of violence and destruction of the area which we are trying to get investment into is totally counterproductive.’

Mr Poots added: ‘Working people are being driven out of the community because housing is unaffordable and unattainable. Essential services such as access to GPs and dentists are incredibly difficult to access.

‘It is essential that we meet the needs of people who have lived in an area for generations. This will only be achieved through engagement, and by government bodies listening and acting to meet those needs. Violence will solve nothing.’

In Bristol, police made 14 arrests because of violent disorder in the city centre, which Avon and Somerset Police described as ‘completely unacceptable’.

Lancashire Police said more than 20 people were arrested and dispersal orders were issued in parts of Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn.

And Staffordshire Police said 10 people were also arrested following disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.

Further protests are planned for Sunday and more trouble is likely in the coming days, police said.

‘We know people will try and do this again and policing has been and will continue to be ready,’ said Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who speaks on public order for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

‘There are 130 extra units in place across the country, meaning almost 4,000 extra public order-trained officers to deploy.

‘So if you’re planning to cause trouble and disorder our message is very simple – we’ll be watching you.’