Southport: what happened last night?

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“Thugs” used the "deaths of three little kiddies for their own political purposes," says the Labour MP for Southport. A riot broke out on Tuesday night after a peaceful vigil for the victims of a knife attack at a children’s dance class on Monday. A mosque was attacked, with bricks and other objects thrown. A police van was set on fire. Merseyside Police Federation says more than 50 police officers were hurt in a "sustained and vicious attack". Jenni Stancombe, the mother of 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, took to social media to call for calm: "This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight." Nicky Campbell heard reaction from the town.