The Guardian has scrutinised data that provides insights into the lives of those accused of taking part in the unrest. The findings provide the first comprehensive picture of the alleged rioters – and challenge some of the assumptions made about them

When the news broke of stabbings at a children’s dance class in Southport this summer, a palpable sense of grief, horror and anger rippled across the country.

From the collective anguish brought on by the incident in which three young girls died, variations on the same question emerged: “Who would do such a thing?”