Violent clashes have erupted in the southeastern coastal town of New Southport near Liverpool, England following an attack at a local school that left three students dead.

The riots began after a protest was organized by several white extremist groups, who claimed the attack was carried out by a Syrian refugee despite no evidence to support this. Protesters gathered outside a local mosque, where they engaged in vandalism, set a police van on fire, and pelted the police and mosque with rocks.

According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the protest started out peacefully as people grieved the loss of the three students. However, the demonstration was “hijacked by some extremists, resulting in the deterioration of the situation.”

Specialized police units were called in to control the rioters, and several people were reported injured in the clashes. Prime Minister Starmer warned that those who disrupt public order will be “dealt with firmly,” emphasizing that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands under the guise of protest.

The unrest was sparked by a knife attack two days earlier at a school in Southport, in which 10 people were injured and three female students died.

A false social media post claiming the attacker was a Syrian refugee fueled outrage and prompted the right-wing extremist groups to organize the protest that turned violent.

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Authorities are urging calm and promising a thorough investigation into both the school attack and the subsequent riots. Local leaders are calling for unity and an end to the cycle of violence that has gripped the community.