Social media posts wrongly identifying the suspected Southport killer as a Muslim immigrant have incited Islamophobic violence around the UK, demonstrating the dire consequences of misinformation.

Anti-immigration riots are causing havoc across the UK after social media posts falsely claimed the suspect of the Southport stabbing attack was a Muslim immigrant.

His misidentification has perpetuated "harmful stereotypes and prejudices" and provoked Islamophobia, according to the Executive Director of the Islamophobia Register Australia Dr Nora Amath.

"As a result, the Southport Mosque, as well as other mosques, have been vandalised and members of the Muslim community assaulted and abused. The Muslim and multicultural communities are left frightened and shaken."

Prominent public figures have spurred the growing unrest by circulating misinformation online which incorrectly links the tragedy to immigration and Islam.

Far-right campaigner and co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL) Tommy Robinson claimed the stabbing attack was "more evidence to suggest Islam is a mental health issue than a religion of peace."

He encouraged his almost 900,000 X followers to join the riots.

Self-proclaimed "misogynist" Andrew Tate, who has 9.8 million X followers, claimed the suspect was an "illegal immigrant" who had "arrived by boat."

Other anti-migrant and anti-Islam X users are spreading misinformation, including @iamyesyouareno, who falsely claimed the suspect's identity was "Ali-Al-Shakati" and "he was on the MI6 watchlist."

On Friday, religious leaders from the Islamic, Christian and Jewish faiths gathered outside the Southport mosque to read a joint statement.

The statement declared that "rising levels of Islamophobia must not be allowed to fester in our society."

"There are some who have chosen to use what should be a moment of collective grief to sow the seeds of division, spread Islamophobia and attack the mosque here in Southport,” Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board read.

“We stand here today, united in our grief and resolute in our condemnation of those opportunists who have shamelessly attempted to undermine and divide our communities."