Police officers taken to hospital and shops looted after violence erupts in Liverpool

Two police officers were taken to hospital after violence erupted in Liverpool. A shop was also looted in the disorder which followed protests that had taken place in the city centre earlier in the day.

On Saturday evening Merseyside Police confirmed two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured in the violence. They confirmed that six people had been arrested on suspicion of offences including violent disorder and criminal damage - with that number expected to increase, reports the LiverpoolECHO.

A police spokesperson said: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and disorder that happened in Liverpool city centre today."

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"The Strand was closed by police to ensure the safety of the public and to enable officers to deal with the incident. A number of people set off fire extinguishers and threw various items including bricks and bottles at officers."

"An officer on a police motorbike was pushed from his bike and assaulted. A kiosk in Liverpool One and a phone shop on Church Street were damaged, broken into and looted. Officers remain in the city centre to monitor the situation."

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, who led today's policing operation, said: "The behaviour we have seen today in Liverpool city centre is completely unacceptable."

"What should have been a sunny Saturday on the historic waterfront to be enjoyed by people of all ages turned into an afternoon of unashamed disorder and violence, which potentially put decent members of the public, including children, at risk."

"We have heard reports of families having to run away from the area, some of