Cops have ‘no intelligence’ of riot despite ‘acid attack’ fake news

Residents staying in city centre apartments in Manchester have been told to stay home between 6pm and 10pm over fears violence could reach central landmarks.

Greater Manchester Police said it had no intelligence that a riot would take place in the city centre.

Earlier today fears of a counter protest were sparked after fake news of an “acid attack” against a Muslim in Bolton spread across social media.

Bolton South MP Yasmin Qureshi later clarified: “I spoke to the superintendent at 12.40 and can assure you this is categorically NOT true.”

More businesses have been boarding up their premises and fleeing the local area over fears they could be targeted.

‘Racists stay away’

A business on Queens Road, Brighton, has put up a sign saying: “Racists stay away.”

Crowds begin to gather in Derby and Middlesbrough

Crowds of counter-protesters are beginning to gather in Derby and Middlesbrough.

TikTok lives streams showed the gatherings outside shops this afternoon in both locations.

One shows a protest on Normanton Road, Derby, near the YG3 mens clothing shop, among other businesses.

Derbyshire Police have put special measures in place ahead of the expected chaos, with far-right marches planned in the city.

Shopping centre Derbion is among the businesses to have shut early in a bid to keep people safe.

A dispersal order has been put in place at 12pm today and will continue throughout the night until 7am on Thursday.

Dispersal orders give officers the power to ask groups of two or more to leave the dispersal area if they are seen committing anti-social behaviour.

They can also be sent on their way if officers believe they may, or are likely to, cause a nuisance to someone else. Anyone committing an offence who refuses to abide by police instruction can be arrested and may face a fine of up to £2,500 and/or a prison sentence of three months.

Pubs agree to close early in Wigan

Multiple pubs in Wigan agreed to close early over fears alcohol was playing a role in spurring on thugs to riot.

The Charles Dickens bar slammed doors shut over fears of disorder, telling punters it had been sent threats of “retaliation” if it stayed open.

Another pub, the Old Pear Tree, also closed at 6pm “to keep our valued customers safe”.

Police issue dispersal orders in Carlisle and Lincoln

Dispersal orders have been put in place in Lincoln and Carlisle as police brace for potential far-right gatherings tonight.

The order essentially gives police officers the power to tell people to go away – if they believe they are engaging or likely to engage in anti-social behaviour.

It also allows them to order anyone to remove a face covering, seize items and arrest anyone who returns to an area they were told to leave.

Merseyside Police already have the order in place in south Liverpool until 7pm tomorrow, while Durham Constabulary said officers issued dispersal orders to 37 people, aged between 13 and 38, who arrived in Durham city centre last night.

Cumbria Constabulary say their order covers the city centre in Carlisle until midnight.

Counter-terror cops ‘actively assessing incidents’

Counter-terrorism cops are “actively assessing incidents” to understand whether terrorism legislation should be applied.

Met assistant commissioner Matt Jukes said counter-terror police were supporting forces across the county in response to the “disgraceful disorder”.

This includes using intelligence gathering.

“We have seen terrible examples of violent crime, disorder and criminal damage, and charges are already being brought across the country,” he said.

“I am very clear that using terrorism legislation or declaring activity as terrorism has not been, and will not be, ruled out.

“Counter terrorism policing is actively assessing incidents to understand whether terrorism legislation should be applied and we will make those judgements without fear or favour.”

Just two people turn up for march in Burnley

The first far-right protest planned today failed to start after only two people turned up — and the rest were defeated by the weather.

Thompson Park in Burnley, Lancashire, had been set to stage a march of hundreds of yobs, with the mass gathering promoted across pages on social media to begin at 1pm.

Police had earlier warned there was a legitimate threat as local shops closed early and a Muslim boarding school boarded up windows to protect against flying missiles.

But the 15-acre park has been left unbothered by protesters as the first of more than 100 events planned by fringe far-right groups badly flopped.

The Sun saw just two protesters, including one cycling with an England flag, walk around the popular dog walking spot before leaving minutes later.

Two police cars and a police public order van were dispatched to the site though one officer said heavy showers had likely put some would-be agitators off.

A park cafe and its boating lake also remained open, with the coffee stop’s manager, who declined to be named, adding: “To be honest, I never thought it was going to happen.

“What would they get out of coming here? “We’d all seen the rumours and obviously nobody wants this sort of thing to be near them.

“Hopefully they wont turn up anywhere else.” 

Elsewhere in the park a children’s noddy train continued to puff around.

The failed protest is the second to flop in two days after a mass gathering in Salford, Greater Manchester, also failed to take place.

Shops had closed in preparation for the potential riot but zero far-right activists showed.

Yobs may have also been deterred by swift and severe jail terms handed out to rioters in Southport and Liverpool.

Shops shut early amid talk of riots – but no sign of any

Shops in Tamworth and Northamptonshire are shutting early amid talk of riots, but there are no signs of any for now.

Talk of counter-protests later on in those places and Derby, as well as Birmingham.

‘Love thy neighbour’ scrawled outside planned demo

A message reading “Love thy neighbour” and “No room for racism” were scrawled on the pavement outside a planned protest meeting point.

Anti-immigration marchers were due to gather at Thompson Park in Burnley at 1pm but no-one showed up.

MP Oliver Ryan shared a picture of the graffiti message on X with a heart emoji.

PM praises ‘swift action’ as 3 jailed

Three men jailed after disturbances which took place last week is evidence of “the swift action” which the Government is taking, according to Sir Keir Starmer.

Reacting to the prison sentences, the Prime Minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This is the swift action we’re taking.

“If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law.”

Thug cries as he pleads guilty

Liam Ryan, 28, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, cried as he pleaded guilty today to violent disorder after disturbances in Manchester city centre on Saturday.

Prosecutors said Ryan had played an “active role” in the disorder, in which a black man was attacked by a “large group of far-right protesters” in Piccadilly Gardens. He is expected to be sentenced next week.

Nursery’s advice to collect kids early ‘beyond grim’

Many businesses have shut up shop for the day or will be closing early due to fears of unrest.

A nursery in Walthamstow, North London, has warned parents to collect their children “by 5pm” today to “ensure children and staff get home safe and avoid potentially being caught up”.

One parent, posting the note on X, formerly Twitter, described the need for the advice as “beyond grim”.

Moment yob brandishes WEAPON at demo

This is the moment a yob wields a huge weapon outside a McDonald’s while on live TV as protesters shout “f*** the EDL”.

The man was among a group of counter-protesters in Birmingham after rumours emerged of a far-right march being staged.

Despite the large crowd gathering in the Bordesley Green area of the city, no rally took place.

However, he was seen on camera dressed in a blue t-shirt and black jacket while holding a sword-shaped object.

London office workers warned to work from home

An office worker in the City of London said he and his colleagues have been told to leave their office near Liverpool Street due to “planned riots” in the area.

He said that employees have been advised to work from home for the remainder of the week and not to attend the London office.

‘No sign’ of protesters at march meeting point

An anti-immigration march was due to kick off this afternoon in Burnley – but it appears no one has turned up.

Posters being handed out and shared on social media encouraged crowds to gather at Thompson Park from 1pm.

But nervy locals are baffled as it seems a non-starter.

A post on Facebook said: “Thompson Park currently very quiet. Few officers on patrol, no sign of protesters, no sign of trouble.”

One person commented: “Let’s hope it stays this way.. all them who doubted the people of Burnley, shame on you..”

Graffiti on the ground outside the entrance to the park reads: “Love thy neighbour” and “No room 4 racism”.

Another post said: “For anyone thinking there’s this big riot or protest starting in Burnley, I’ve just drove past Thompson Park and all through town and everyone is just going about their day as normal!”

Some people speculated that the rain forecast had put marchers off.

Police preparing for a total of 130 protests today

Police are understood to be preparing to respond to more than 100 planned protests and potentially around 30 more counter protests today, with gatherings anticipated in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

A police source said: “Today is probably going to be the busiest day of the week, into the evening.

“Tonight, we think it’s looking like a credible picture. We are preparing for activity across 41 forces.”

Resources are being shared around the country as forces respond to intelligence, with the Metropolitan Police understood to be sending some officers to Manchester while others in the south east are also travelling to support colleagues in north east and north west forces.

According to police sources, immigration centres and lawyers’ offices are anticipated to be the main focus for the gatherings but officers could also be deployed to hotels housing asylum seekers if intelligence establishes they face credible threats.

Truck driver accused of ‘arming rioters with weapons’

Jake Turton, 38, was refused bail when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court after he was charged in connection with the rioting in Rotherham at the weekend.

Turton, of Darfield, Barnsley, is accused of driving a Ford Ranger pick-up truck to the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, from which those involved in the disorder took wood and other debris to use as weapons against the police.

District Judge James Gould heard how the whole alleged incident was caught on video by a police helicopter.

On Wednesday, the defendant, who was wearing a bright blue t-shirt and grey track-suit bottoms in the glass-fronted dock, denied violent disorder, taking a vehicle without consent and having no insurance.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Gould to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

As he left the dock, one of his supporters in court shouted “keep it up” and Turton replied “See you in a bit, lads”, with a thumbs-up signs.