This is the shocking moment an Asian man was punched in the face in what appears to be a racially motivated attack during riots in Hartlepool last night.
The riots, which took place around the UK, are believed to be in response to a horrifying stabbing spree in Southport on Monday in which three young girls were murdered at a children’s dance class.
Violent scenes erupted in Hartlepool, Aldershot, London and Manchester last night, which saw riot police pelted with bricks, missiles and glass bottles during clashes with far-right protesters.
In Hartlepool, footage captured on social media shows an Asian man walking down the street as scenes of violence unfold around him when he is punched in the face by a white man in a baseball cap in an unprovoked assault.
As he reels from the assault, people in the background can be heard saying ‘a p*** got banged’ and chanting ‘this is our town’.
Elsewhere in Hartlepool, rioters assaulted police officers and destroyed a police car before setting it on fire, posing for selfies with the wreck before it was extinguished by firefighters.
Cleveland Police said four arrests had been made for various offences including public order and affray and they were taken to custody.
Chief Superintendent David Sutherland said earlier in the evening: ‘We currently have a high policing presence while officers respond to disorder that is taking place in Hartlepool following a protest that began this evening.
‘At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week.
‘Our officers are facing missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests as they remain in the area to protect the safety of those living in the community.
‘I want to urge members of the public to stay away from the area.’
Other notable protests took place in London, which saw far-right rioters chanting the name of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson and brandishing a banner which read ‘Enough is enough, stop the boats’.
Over 100 protesters were arrested during the demonstration, according to the Met.
A similar protest also took place in Manchester, which saw members of the far-right picket a hotel in Newton Heath believed to be housing migrants.
Tributes have poured in for the three girls killed who police named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds in the Southport bloodbath. Five are in a critical condition, as are two women who bravely tried to save the children.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in nearby Banks, was last night charged with the murders of the three girls.
He will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court this morning.
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