The shop on Church Street was targeted after violent scenes on the Strand
A city centre phone shop was targeted following outbreaks of serious disorder in Liverpool this afternoon. Protests were being held in Liverpool city centre and across the UK today.
A number of demonstrations were planned, including one called ‘Save Our Kids’, held near the Liver Building at Liverpool’s Pier Head. As the afternoon went on, clashes between police and protesters spilled onto The Strand. Merseyside Police described the incident as “serious disorder” and “despicable”, with parents and children seen running away down Water Street when violence broke out and bricks launched at officers in riot gear.
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Following the disorder, which lasted hours, people were seen heading back towards the city centre, with a number of incidents reported on Church Street, and a shop was targeted. As the shutters closed on Fix Phone, close to Primark on the busy pedestrianised shopping street, thugs stopped the metal shutter from closing before running inside and “stealing phones”.
READ MORE: Bricks and bottles thrown at police as violent scenes break out on The StrandREAD MORE: Families forced to run as ‘serious disorder’ breaks out in Liverpool
Ali Afgab, who has worked at the shop for two years, told the ECHO: “As we’re about to close the shutter they just grabbed the shutter and pulled it open. They ran inside, stole as much as they could and smashed everything inside. They got inside and used the fire extinguisher to smash everything. They pulled the shutter up and then everything happened.”
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The 25-year-old stood next to the shop as hundreds of people walked past. Police armed with riot shields and wearing helmets were seen walking the streets in the city centre as riot vans were parked across the pavements.
He added: “They took the phones and broke everything inside. It’ll take a month to get everything fixed and stock back, I’m going to be unemployed, what am I meant to do? You can’t do anything at all. What they’ve done to this shop is very bad.”