The Southport rioter who was knocked in the back of the head by two bricks as tried to goad police before another hit his crotch is a 'party animal' father-of-two from the Merseyside town, MailOnline can reveal.
Painter and decorator Brian Spencer, 39, was amongst the far-right thugs who smashed down brick garden walls, set wheelie bins alight and threw bollards at officers, leaving more than 50 injured.
A clip showed Brian wearing a grey tracksuit, dancing and jumping around in the street as the yobs ran riot in the town last night, looting shops, after three children were stabbed to death on Monday.
Minutes later he is seen approaching a line of police officers protecting themselves with riot gear, swinging his hips and gyrating, before striking a pose in a bid to taunt them.
But as he tried to goad the officers, he was nearly sent flying to the floor, after a giant brick smashed into his face after rebounding off a riot shield. At the same time he was pelted in the back of the head.
The Southport rioter who was knocked in the back of the head by two bricks as tried to goad police before another hit his crotch is 39-year-old, father-of-twoBrian Spencer
Brian was seen wearing a grey tracksuit, dancing and jumping around in the street as the yobs ran riot in the town last night
Minutes later he is seen approaching a line of police officers protecting themselves with riot gear, swinging his hips and gyrating, before striking a pose
A police van was set on fire near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as riots broke out
As Brian walks away from the group of officers rubbing the back in the head, he was hit by a third brick - this time in the crotch. He shouted 'f***ing hell boys' as two other rioters helped him out of the crowd.
Friends told MailOnline Brian is known as party animal and has previously been filmedin a social media video dancing at a festival in a similar style to the one he used during last night's disturbances.
One Southport local said: 'People are saying the protesters were outsiders who came here to cause trouble - but Brian came from just up the road.
'Everyone knows Brian. He's a bit of a party animal and I think he just got excited last night. His head will be hurting this morning.'
The 'sickening' violence, which started barely an hour after thousands of mourners had gathered for a vigil to remember the victims who lost their lives, with the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and police chiefs condemning the thuggery.
The violent group were accused of showing 'no respect to a town that's grieving'.
Tributes poured in for the three little girls killed who police yesterday named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds at the Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance workshop. Five are in a critical condition, alongside two women who were also critically injured as they bravely tried to save the children.
Seconds laterhe was nearly sent flying to the floor, after a giant brick smashed into his face after rebounding off a riot shield
As Brian walks away from the group of officers rubbing the back in the head, he was hit by a third brick - this time in the crotch
A wounded police officer with blood pouring down his head after being caught up in the riots
Riot policehold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out in Southport
Three girls were killed in a bloody rampage on Hart Street on Monday. On Tuesday, a vigil was held for the victims on Lord Street. While it was going on, a man with a flick knife was arrested on Eastbank Street. On St Luke's Road, riots erupted outside a mosque - also on Tuesday
This afternoon Chairman of Merseyside Police Federation Chris McGlade revealed 56 officers had been hurt in a 'sustained and vicious attack', including one female officer with a broken nose.
The riot took place near a local mosque calledSouthport Islamic Society Mosque.
Merseyside Police say the violence broke out following false rumours blaming a Muslim migrant for the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance workshop in Southport on Monday morning.
Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy later revealed three people had been arrested on Tuesday night.She said: 'Our priority was to try and keep the communities of Southport safe and also to make sure officers remained safe.
'Three arrests were made, however more will follow. It's impossible to say (how many will be arrested). It's really early days in the investigation.'
PC Kennedy estimated 200 to 300 people were involved. She said: 'Initially, there were about 70 people who made their way away from the vigil and were making their way towards the mosque.
'They suddenly became about 200 in number and then others joined that number.'
Residents and locals were left terrified by the incident locking themselves up in their homes.
Southport burns: A street near a mosque goes up in flames as violent thugs took to the streets last night
Around 200 protesters were seen taking to the streets. Police believe many were EDL supporters
Rioters wearing masks launch missiles towards police officers in Southport
University student Raj Malakar, 19, told the Mail: 'It was crazy to witness everything. I don't see any justifiable point at what they were doing. It was heinous.
'It was frightening, we were fearful for our own safety. Due to our ethnic origin we closed all the blinds, turned the lights off and hid ourselves inside. We were all very shaken and my mum didn't sleep last night. We didn't know what would happen to us.
'I came home from university expecting to relax for three months and this happens.'
A few doors down the road Denise Mace, 51, and her chef husband Graham, 52, watched from inside also fearing for their safety and worrying their car parked outside would be smashed up.
As the police were forced back they quietly pleaded with officers to hold their ground as they filmed from an upstairs window.
'It was terrifying, absolutely horrendous. We didn't know if they would come into our house. We were very lucky compared to other people. We were scared they would break in.'
Mrs Mace, a care consultant, said the local imam used to live next door and was a 'beautiful man.'
'He would bring us food at Ramadan,' she said. 'This is not Southport, it was by senseless yobs who have come here for a fight.
Riot police with shields and helmets hold back protesters after disorder broke out
Smoke is seen billowing from a police van which was set ablaze. The mosque is seen on the right
Iqbal Ahmed, 32, was trappedinside the mosque for five and a half hours as hundreds of rioters pelted police with bricks, concrete and fireworks outside.
Mr Ahmed said he arrived for prayers at 7.30pm and was taunted with racist insults before heading to an upstairs prayer room where he and the others were forced to take shelter until 1am this morning.
As well as dodging broken glass, he said rioters were making sinister phone calls to the mosque on withheld numbers throughout the night threatening to kill them and their families.
His Volkswagen car, parked outside the mosque, also had its windscreen shattered by a hooded rioter.
Following the riot - which left 27 officers needing hospital treatment and three police dogs injured - the mother of seven-year-old Elise spoke out to condemn the violence.
Grieving Jenni Stancombe pleaded for the violence to end on social media.
She said: 'This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
'The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this.'
The community has rallied together in the wake of the tragedy while others have offered rooms to those who needed a safe place to stay following the night of carnage.
Builders offered their services for free to rebuild walls demolished after thugs threw rubble at police vehicles and others took to social media to praise brave officers.
