Bolton’s MPs have spoken out criticising ‘far-right thuggery’ after numerous demonstrations and riots across the country over the weekend.

One demonstration took place in Bolton town centre, which saw clashes between the far-right and a counter-demonstration.

Greater Manchester Police used powers amid disturbances in the town centre to order people to “remove face coverings used to disguise or conceal their appearance”.

Across the country, police clashed with crowds as the escalating violence – one week on from the Southport stabbings – continued over the weekend.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the attack, with 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana appearing in court charged with the crime.

Kirith Entwistle says ‘far-right thuggery must be stopped’

Bolton North MP Kirith Entwistle said: “Hatred and thuggery have no place in our town.

“Communities are grieving and traumatised following the recent tragic events in Southport, and my heart goes out to them.

“Making them suffer more trauma is never the solution.

“We must never let those who seek to divide win.

“The scenes in our town (on Sunday, August 4) have been shocking.

"I echo the Prime Minister’s views that this violent mob does not represent our country, and they certainly do not represent our diverse town.

“Far-right thuggery must be stopped.

“Singling out and targeting Muslim and minority communities to attack them is completely unacceptable, and I condemn this behaviour.

“The police must be allowed to do their job and need to be supported in doing so.

“I will be working with local communities to support them and will continue to monitor events closely.”

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Yasmin Qureshi says ‘we must come together’

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South and Walkden, said: “The scenes of thuggery and targeted violence over the weekend have been appalling.

“We must confront the deeply troubling reality that there are people across our country embracing hatred, racism, and Islamophobia.

“I’ve heard from constituents whose families have been gripped with the fear of being targeted and encouraging their children to stay at home and be safe – something my own parents did in the 1970s.

“The police are doing everything they can and will rightly take the strongest possible action against those responsible.

“As a society, we must come together and unite against such hatred, but we also need to ask deeper questions on the origin of these far-right race riots and those who seek to divide us.

“Situations like this don’t occur in a vacuum.

“Social media companies need to do more to counter disinformation but it’s time we acknowledged that the dehumanising of communities and normalisation of Islamophobia in parts of our media is not new and has played its part in where we are today.”

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Phil Brickell says ‘zero tolerance’ needed

Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, said: “I am deeply troubled by the recent violence, arson and thuggery on display.

“Whatever the perceived injustice, attacking police officers and setting fire to buildings and property is never justified.

“My thanks to the police for their work in managing the incidents here in Bolton and around the country.

“I have contacted the Chief Superintendent of Bolton Police to personally thank all the officers at GMP for their work protecting our town.

“I am pleased that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary are taking swift and robust action against these criminals. Zero tolerance is needed.

“I am also pleased that they have put in place extra funding to provide support and protection for our local mosques as they have been a target for some of this activity. 

“We must return our focus back to supporting the victims and families of the terrible attack in Southport.

“Fundamentally, this attack is an act of male violence against women and girls, instances of which have hit record levels in recent years.

“This must be where we turn our attention but the rioters' actions do nothing to support that effort."

READ MORE: Praise for policing operation as tensions rose during protests in Bolton

The Government called an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday while courts stood ready to take cases as a sixth day of disorder unfolded.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.