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Police are ready for new troubles the English seaside town of Southport following violent clashes that erupted over the death of three girls in violent knife attack in a dance class, the district’s top officer said Wednesday.

A 17 year old young man is in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder following a bloody attack on “Taylor Swift’s Yoga and Dance Masterclass”Summer holidays for children from six to 11 years old.

More than 50 officers were injured in unrest in Southport on Tuesday evening after social media posts fuelled rumours the suspect was a radical Islamist migrant.

Police vans were set on fire and protesters threw bricks, bottles and fireworks at officers and cars parked outside the city’s mosque.

“Just to reassure the people of Southport who I’m sure are wondering, ‘Are we going to see this again tonight?’ we are making plans for this evening and next weekend,” Merseyside Police Chief Serena Kennedy told reporters.

In addition to kill three girls between the ages of six and nineEight other children were stabbed in the attack on Monday in this usually quiet town in north-west England. Five of them remain in hospital in a critical condition, along with two adults who tried to protect them.

Police are legally restricted from giving details about the alleged teenage attacker but said the incident was not terrorism-related and that he was born in Britain, ruling out speculation about his origins.

That did not stop protesters, who police believed were supporters of a right-wing group, from attacking the mosque and attacking police who tried to stop them.

“Bandits from Another City”

Politicians and police said most of those involved in the violence were not from the area and that the clashes marred a larger vigil attended by thousands of people to pay tribute to the young victims.

Kennedy said 54 officers were wounded and 27 of them were taken to hospital with serious injuries. including fractures and head injuries. Three police dogs were also injured.

The police chief said she was outraged and shocked by the violence and that a full investigation was underway to identify those involved.

“They were there solely to cause vandalism and violence, to bring that level of violence and that type of behaviour onto the streets of Southport and that is not what this community is all about,” he said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “violent out-of-town thugs… will feel the full weight of the law”.

On Wednesday, The streets of Southport were littered with bricks from destroyed walls.broken bottles, large garbage containers and their contents. Fire stains on the asphalt indicated that police cars had been set on fire during the clashes the previous evening.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift fans have so far raised more than £270,000 ($346,000) to help the victims’ families and the hospital where some of the children were treated.

Reuters