LONDON

Violent clashes broke out in Southport, a seaside town in North West England, Tuesday evening as police confronted demonstrators protesting in the wake of a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class the previous day that killed three girls.

Police said the situation escalated around 7.45 p.m. local time when supporters of the English Defence League -- a far-right, Islamophobic organization -- threw items at the Southport Mosque.

The tension quickly turned to violence as bottles and wheelie bins were thrown at officers, leading to a police van being set on fire.

An officer suffered a suspected broken nose amid the chaos, and additional patrols, including the dog section, were deployed to the area.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Doss described the situation as "sickening," particularly in light of the community's recent trauma following the tragic loss of three young lives in the stabbing incident.

Doss emphasized that the unrest was being fueled by individuals from outside the Merseyside area, exploiting the recent tragedy to incite disorder.

"There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody," he said. "Some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets."

The home secretary earlier issued a warning against spreading disinformation about the stabbing attack, a call echoed by the police in their statement tonight.

The arrested individual, according to the police, was born in the UK, and speculation about his status is seen as unhelpful and potentially harmful.

Merseyside police have vowed to continue their efforts to ensure the safety of the local community, which has already suffered immensely.