Thousands gather in London after Southport killings spur second night of demonstrations

Protesters clashed with police near Downing Street in London on Wednesday as Britain faced a second night of demonstrations following the deaths of three young girls in a frenzied knife attack at a dance class.

Thousands gathered near the Prime Minister's residence, chanting "save our kids," "we want our country back," and "stop the boats," along with English football chants. A large number of police, wearing helmets, formed a barrier around the protesters, who earlier threw flares and smoke canisters towards Downing Street.

Police were also preparing for further unrest in the English seaside town of Southport, where Monday's stabbings took place. More than 50 officers were injured on Tuesday night in violent clashes.

A 17-year-old male is in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after the bloody rampage on Monday at a "Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop," a summer vacation event for children aged 6 to 11.

Disturbances in Southport on Tuesday erupted after false information spread on social media that the suspect behind Monday's stabbings was a radical Islamist migrant. Police vans were set on fire, and protesters hurled bricks, bottles, and fireworks at officers and cars parked at the town's mosque.

"Just to reassure the communities of Southport, who I am sure are really worried about 'are we going to see this again tonight?' - we are absolutely planning for this evening and for the weekend ahead," Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside Police, told reporters.

Monday's attack in the normally quiet town in northwest England left three girls aged six to nine dead and eight other children stabbed. Five remain in critical condition in the hospital, along with two adults who tried to protect them.

Police, legally restricted in the details they can provide about the alleged teenage attacker, have stated the incident was not terrorism-related and that he was born in Britain, quashing speculation about his origins.

Despite this, protesters, believed to be supporters of a right-wing anti-Islam, anti-immigration group, targeted the mosque and attacked police who tried to stop them.

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

Police reported 53 officers were hurt, with eight treated in the hospital for serious injuries including fractures and head wounds. Three police dogs were also injured.

The police chief expressed disgust and appall at the violence. Four men, aged between 31 and 39, have been arrested, and police are seeking to identify others involved.

"They were there purely for hooliganism and thuggery, bringing that level of violence and behavior onto the streets of Southport, and that is not what this community is about," she said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the "violent thugs from out of town" would "feel the full force of the law."

On Wednesday, streets in Southport were littered with bricks from broken walls, smashed bottles, and large garbage bins and their contents. Charred tarmac bore witness to police vehicles set alight in the clashes the night before.

"What I saw last night was absolutely appalling ... It was devastating and it's kind of taken away from actually what's gone on, which is the tragedy of those deaths," local resident David Burgess told Sky News.

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