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BBC star ‘heartbroken’ for home city after violent Sunderland riots-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
They have been taking place across the country.
Lauren shared her horror at the riots in Sunderland (Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images
BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has addressed the violent disorder in Sunderland provoked by far-right rioters in a moving message.
The 46-year-old, known for presenting on The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, said she was ‘heartbroken’ for her home city.
She made the comments after police battled the rioters on Friday evening after a planned attack linked to the Southport knife attack.
Dozens of demonstrations have been taking place over the weekend as tensions remain high after the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday.
Lauren said in a post to Instagram: ‘Heartbroken for my hometown last night.
‘Sending love and solidarity to everyone beginning the cleanup today. Pic via @poprecs #sunderland.’
A police office was set alight during the riots in Sunderland (Picture: Drik/Getty Images)
Hundreds of far-right rioters wreaked havoc in Sunderland (Picture: Drik/Getty Images)
Former Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, who is also from Sunderland, called the violence ‘shameful.’
She re-posted a statement from mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness to Instagram and wrote: ‘What started as a peaceful protest was completely ruined. Shameful. It really is.’
Loose Women star Denise Welch, who is from the nearby town of Tynemouth, shared a video of the disorder to X and said: ‘The majority of the lovely Sunderland people will be horrified by these scenes.’
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Keel Square, many of them draped in England flags, and members of the crowd chanted in support of English Defence League Tommy Robinson, while others shouted insults about Islam.
Lauren said she was ‘heartbroken’ for her home city (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
During the violence, a police office was looted, a Citizens Advice office set alight a mosque was targetted and footage on social media, said to have also been filmed in Sunderland, appeared to show a man with a swastika tattoo on his back.
Yobs also tried to smash a gravestone to use as missiles, an act described as ‘sacrilegious’ by Sunderland Minister priest Reverend Jacqui Tyson.
Officers from Northumbria Police were ‘subjected to serious violence’ and three were taken to hospital, the force said later.
It has been warned that if far-right rioting continues into the summer police will be ‘absolutely exhausted’.
Riots have been happening across the country after children were killed at a Taylor Swift event (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said at a press conference: ‘In Northumbria, peoples’ rest days have been cancelled. People were working through the night last night and are back on working today.
‘Every bit of resource we have got is targeted at keeping people safe and protecting our local economy and businesses.
‘I think there was enough police, yes, and when you’re dealing with that level of violence and criminality in some ways it doesn’t matter how many officers you’ve got out there, that is going to run its course, like it did.
‘My concern is that the police forces nationally are going to be absolutely exhausted if this continues through the summer.’
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