Protests Erupt in London After Knife Attack

Protesters clashed with police near Downing Street in London as Britain faced a second night of demonstrations following the deaths of three young girls in a frenzied knife attack at a dance class.

Thousands gathered near the Prime Minister's residence shouting "save our kids"; "we want our country back"; and "stop the boats" as well as English football chants.

A large number of police wearing helmets formed a barrier around the protesters, who earlier threw flares and smoke canisters towards Downing Street.

A 17-year-old male was in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after the bloody rampage at a "Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop," a summer vacation event for children aged 6 to 11.

The charges came as the traumatized town of Southport cleaned up after a bout of far-right violence, and agitators fired up by anger and misinformation clashed with police near the prime minister’s residence in London.

Police are legally restricted in the details they can provide about the alleged teenage attacker, but they have said the incident was not terrorism-related and that he was born in Britain, quashing speculation on his origins.

That did not prevent protesters, who police believe were supporters of a right-wing anti-Islam, anti-immigration group, from targeting the mosque and attacking police who tried to stop them.

The Merseyside Police force said the teenager, who has not been named because of his age, faces three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder over people injured in the attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class.

He is due to appear in court in Liverpool.

Far-right demonstrators have launched several violent protests, ostensibly in response to the attack, clashing with police outside a mosque in Southport.