Violent anti-immigration protests in Britain after the murder of three girls. Starmer: I guarantee you will regret it (PHOTO)

Police in Britain and Northern Ireland arrested dozens of people over the violence at the protests, while the government warned of a crackdown on those it said were using the killing of three little girls a few days ago to incite unrest.

Violent protests involving hundreds of anti-immigration groups have erupted in cities across Britain after girls were killed in a stabbing attack at a children's dance class in Southport, in the west of the country last week.

Anti-immigration and anti-Muslim groups seized on the killings to protest after false information spread that the suspect was a radical Islamic immigrant.

Police said the suspect was born in Britain.

According to media reports, his family is Christian.

On Saturday, violent riots broke out in cities across the country, including Liverpool, Bristol, Hull and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as the town of Blackpool. Police said they arrested at least 87 people. There were also riots in Manchester and Belfast.

Shops and businesses were vandalized and looted, a library in Liverpool was set on fire and several police officers were injured, police reports said.

"Criminal violence and thuggery on our streets will not be tolerated," Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said late Saturday. "Police forces have my full support to ensure that those who engage in criminal disorder receive the strongest possible punishment."

Saturday's protests were the largest in days of unrest following the killings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said they are not legitimate protests but the result of deliberate actions by the far right, coordinated by a "group of individuals who are absolutely bent on violence".

Starmer vowed to "do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice".

"I guarantee you will regret participating in these riots either directly or those who instigate such acts online," Keir Starmer said in a statement to the media.

The last time violent protests broke out across Britain was in 2011, when thousands of people took to the streets after a police shooting in London.

The protests are continuing on Sunday.

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