Protests Erupt Over U.K. Child Murders

Anti-immigration and counter protesters hit the streets of Lancaster following the murder of three young girls in northwest England.

Anti-racism protesters chanted, "Nazi scum, off our streets," and held signs reading "Black lives matter" whilst police monitored the situation.

Riots involving hundreds of anti-immigration protesters have erupted in towns and cities after false information spread rapidly on social media that the suspect knife attack at a children's dance class in Southport was a radical Muslim migrant.

Police have said the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, 17, was born in Britain but protests by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim demonstrators have continued, descending into violence, arson and looting.

UK leader Keir Starmer warned far-right protesters they would regret participating in England's worst rioting in 13 years, as disturbances linked to the murder of three children earlier this week flared across the country.

"There was no justification for what he called far-right thuggery", he added, promising to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Masked anti-immigration demonstrators smashed several windows at a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Unrest related to misinformation about the mass stabbing in the northwestern English seaside town of Southport has hit multiple towns and cities, with anti-immigration demonstrators clashing with police.

The violence is a major challenge for Starmer, elected only a month ago after leading Labour to a landslide win over the Conservatives.

Also in the northeastern English city of Middlesbrough, hundreds of protesters squared up to riot police carrying shields. Some threw bricks, cans and pots at officers.

The fresh disturbances came after police said more than 150 people had been arrested following skirmishes at far-right rallies in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool and Hull, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland.