Seven charged over Hartlepool unrest
Seven men have been charged after disorder broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday.
All seven men were charged with violent disorder, while one was also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and another was charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, Cleveland Police said.
The men, aged 28 to 54, have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Teesside Magistrates Court later, police said.
Cleveland Police said it believes the disorder was linked to protests over the fatal knife attack on three children in Southport on Monday.
An 11-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson after a police car was set alight in Hartlepool.
Eleven people were arrested as police officers were attacked with missiles, glass bottles and eggs in Hartlepool’s Murray Street area on Wednesday.
Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash described the night’s events as “appalling” and called for people to “remain calm”.
He told BBC Radio Tees there was “no excuse” for what had happened.
Cleveland Police has said it is also investigating an assault after video posted on social media appeared to show a “young boy of black or ethnic origin” being “punched in the face”, during the unrest.
Disorder has broken out in multiple areas of the country since the Southport attack.
More than 100 people were arrested in central London on Wednesday as officers clashed with protesters on Whitehall during a demonstration.
There was also unrest in Southport on Tuesday, which came hours after a peaceful vigil was attended by thousands to remember the girls who died.
Eight people are being sought by police after objects were hurled outside a hotel housing migrants during a protest in Aldershot.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “action will be taken” following the “violent disorder” at a meeting with police chiefs at Downing Street.
Speaking in a televised speech afterwards, he laid out plans for forces across the country to increase their co-operation to tackle such incidents.
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