Middlesbrough hit by ‘staggering’ violence on Sunday, police say, as 35 arrested
There was damage to the crown court, the university and a number of properties in the Parliament Road area.
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A “staggering” surge of violence led to 35 people being arrested in Middlesbrough on Sunday, police said.
Rioters smashed the windows of houses and cars and hurled objects at officers, with one seen shouting a racial slur and another telling police: “It’s our f****** country.”
There was significant damage to the crown court, the university and a number of properties in the Parliament Road area.
Cleveland Police said it has now arrested 55 people because of the violence that has swept across Teesside as 20 suspects were also arrested after rioting in Hartlepool on Wednesday.
Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: “The level of violence we have seen today is staggering.
“We know the shocking scenes across Middlesbrough today will have caused alarm amongst communities.
“I want to reassure the people of Teesside that we will continue to identify those involved in these acts of violence and arrest them and put them before the courts.”
Earlier, about 300 people gathered in front of a mosque in Waterloo Road in Middlesbrough to guard it while police blocked off nearby streets.
One resident told the PA news agency: “We’re going to be paying for this, and for what?
“This has got nothing to do with three little girls that have lost their lives. They’ve used it to cause utter mayhem on our streets.”
Protesters in Middlesbrough were seen smashing car windows as they walked through a residential area, including one rioter who threw a piece of broken glass through the window of a home.
One of the group used a racial slur while shouting which car “are we going to smash next?”.
Another replied “because we’re English” when asked by a resident why they were breaking windows.
A scuffle broke out between protesters and a small group of people whose cars were smashed.
A woman shouted “you fascist thugs” while a man who was with her shouted at police: “You’re letting them rampage through the city.”
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