More than 90 people were arrested after right-wing extremist demonstrations turned violent in towns and cities across the UK on Saturday.

In areas such as Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast, bottles were thrown, shops were looted and police were attacked – but not all demonstrations ended in violence.

The Prime Minister promised to give the government’s “full support” to police forces to crack down on “extremists” trying to “sow hatred”.

The situation is tense following the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance party in Southport, Merseyside on Monday.

In Liverpool, police officers were pelted with bricks, bottles and a flare, one officer was hit in the head by a chair thrown at him and another was kicked and pushed off his motorbike.

Several hundred anti-fascist protesters gathered opposite Liverpool’s Lime Street station at lunchtime, calling for unity and tolerance. They chanted “Refugees are welcome here” and “Nazi scum, get off our streets”.

They marched to the city’s riverfront to confront about a thousand anti-immigration protesters – some of whom shouted anti-Islamic insults.

Police in riot gear and with dogs struggled to separate the two sides. Reinforcements were called in to maintain order.

The unrest continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with fireworks being fired at police officers in riot gear.

A library was set on fire in the Walton district and rioters tried to prevent firefighters from putting out the fire, Merseyside Police said.

Shops were broken into and numerous garbage cans were set on fire, it was reported.

Police confirmed that several officers were injured in what they described as “serious” injuries, with two of them being taken to hospital – one believed to have a broken nose and the other believed to have a broken jaw.

It was said that 23 people had been arrested.

Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Simms said: “There is no place for riots, violence and destruction here in Merseyside, especially after the tragic events that took place in Southport on Monday.”

“Those who behave in this way bring nothing but shame on themselves and this city.”

At a meeting of government ministers on Saturday, a spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister had told those present that “freedom of expression and the violent unrest we have seen are two very different things.”

He added: “There is no excuse for violence of any kind” and reiterated that the government supports the police in taking all necessary measures to ensure safety on our streets.

On Saturday, the Home Secretary also warned that anyone taking part in “unacceptable unrest” would face prison and travel bans, among other punishments. He added that “sufficient” prison space had been made available.

“Criminal violence and unrest have no place on Britain’s streets,” said Yvette Cooper.

She added that the police could count on the government’s full support in their actions against “violent” individuals.

In Bristol, a standoff broke out between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators.

One group was heard singing “Rule Britannia”, “England until I die” and “We want our country back”, while the other side chanted “Refugees are welcome here”.

The anti-racism group was pelted with beer cans and some of the rival protesters were attacked by the officers with batons.

Avon and Somerset Police said 14 people had been arrested in the town. Police Chief Vicks Hayward-Melen said he expects there will be “more arrests in the coming days.”

In Manchester there were scuffles with the police and at least two arrests.

In Belfast, two people were arrested when protesters threw objects at media representatives outside a mosque and smashed windows in a cafe.

In Hull, protesters smashed the windows of a hotel housing asylum seekers and threw bottles and eggs at police officers.

The Town Hall was cordoned off because the British Chess Championships were taking place indoors.

Humberside Police said three police officers were injured and 20 people were arrested after riots broke out in the city centre and shops were looted and items were set on fire.

In Blackpool, protesters and punks attending the Rebellion Festival clashed. Police were barely present when clashes broke out between the two groups, with bottles and chairs flying.

Lancashire Police said they had arrested more than 20 people. The police focus was on Blackpool, but there were also “minor disturbances” in Blackburn and Preston.

In Stoke-on-Trent, police officers were pelted with bricks. Staffordshire Police said that two men who were reported online as victims of knife attacks were in fact hit by a thrown object and did not suffer serious injuries.

Police said ten people were arrested and three officers suffered minor injuries.

Elsewhere, Leicestershire Police arrested two people in Leicester city centre. And West Yorkshire Police said a demonstration on the Headrow in Leeds was “largely without incident”, although there was one arrest.

Not all demonstrations across the UK ended in violence on Saturday, and in some places protesters dispersed in the evening.

Saturday’s protests followed a night of violence in Sunderland on Friday, during which four police officers were hospitalized.

Hundreds of people rioted, riot police were pelted with beer cans and bricks in front of a mosque, and the advice center of a citizens’ advice center was set on fire.

Twelve people were arrested in connection with the violence.

The BBC has identified at least 30 demonstrations that far-right activists are planning across the UK this weekend, including a new protest in Southport.

This weekend, an additional 70 prosecutors will be on standby to file charges against those arrested in connection with violent unrest.

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly called on Sir Keir and the Home Secretary to “do more” to restore public order and “send a clear message to the thugs”.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced a new national counter-violent disorder programme, which aims to help combat violent groups by enabling police forces to share intelligence.

With additional coverage from BBC news reporters from across England.