Middlesbrough riots: Locals say 'it's like Beirut' as 200 guard mosque

Streets in Middlesbrough have descended into violent anarchy this afternoon (Sunday, August 4) as yobs started setting fire to cars and chanting racist slurs during a protest in the town.

The mindless violence follows ugly scenes earlier today in Rotherham and Bolton, as rioting across Britain shows no signs of coming to an end.

An estimated 500 protesters gathered in Middlesbrough town centre, with the demonstration starting peacefully with a minute’s silence for the young victims of the Southport stabbings. But the situation quickly descended into total chaos.

Conservative councillor Luke Hurst, 22, from Coulby Newham, was in central Middlesbrough when the march started.

As he spoke to Express.co.uk Luke had to indicate to rioters that he was in his car so it wasn’t smashed up.

He said: “It was peaceful for about 10 minutes. Then it all started kicking off. It just descended from then.”

The protesters marched down Linthorpe Road and chanted racist slurs. About 200 counter-protesters are now guarding a mosque on Waterloo Road.

As they passed the Cleveland Centre shopping centre and passed the Town Hall some started smashing up the town's courts.

Luke added: “That was the first real act of thuggery - they smashed the courts up and then jumped on the cars. It’s like Beirut. Smashing houses, smashing cars.

“[They are chanting] really quite racist stuff.”

At least three cars have been set on fire with fireworks also being set off.

Luke said: “It is a far-right march and all of the violence and destruction is young teens who are seeing it as an opportunity to smash some stuff up and don’t really know what they are doing it for.”

He added: “I have been on the verge of tears. The town is just completely unrecognisable and it’s still going on now.

“It’s been mixed [with the police]. They were doing a good job but just got overwhelmed. They are doing a good job considering.”