In response to the violence that erupted following the tragic murder of three children, the UK government announced that 6,000 specialized police officers were prepared to handle far-right riots.
In Plymouth, located in southern England, six individuals were arrested on Monday, and multiple police officers sustained injuries from rioters who were throwing bricks and fireworks.
Similarly, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, officers were targeted by rioters attempting to set ablaze a shop belonging to a foreign national.
Law enforcement reported a racially motivated hate crime incident involving a man in his thirties who was severely assaulted during the chaos.
Meanwhile, in Birmingham, a group of men disrupted a rumored far-right demonstration by forcing a Sky News reporter off the air, chanting “Free Palestine.” Subsequently, a masked man wielding a knife followed her.
Another reporter stated he was pursued by individuals from the group holding what appeared to be weapons, while police reported incidents of property damage to a pub and a car.
The unrest originated last Tuesday after the tragic incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, resulting in the loss of three young lives.
Riots have since spread to various cities and towns, resulting in hundreds of arrests.
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander informed BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday that the government had increased prison capacity by 500 places and mobilized 6,000 specialized police officers to address the ongoing turmoil.
“We ensure that individuals serving a custodial sentence due to the riots will find a prison place available,” she affirmed.
– Spreading misinformation –
Throughout the weekend, mobs engaged in violent activities, targeting police, looting, and vandalizing properties, including two hotels where asylum seekers resided, across multiple cities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency meeting on Monday with ministers and police chiefs to address the escalating unrest.
Following the meeting, Starmer pledged to enhance the criminal justice system to ensure swift penalties for the perpetrators.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) confirmed the arrest of 378 individuals so far, affirming that more arrests would follow to bring the wrongdoers to justice.
Incidents escalated in Southport on Wednesday, post the tragic attack on children, leading to false rumors circulating on social media linking the attacker to being a Muslim asylum seeker.
Subsequently, the suspect was identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a resident of Wales. Although his parents are of Rwandan descent, a country with a minimal Muslim population, mosques became targets for rioters.
The government has announced heightened security measures for Islamic places of worship.
In Burnley, northwest England, authorities launched a hate crime investigation following the desecration of gravestones in a Muslim section of a cemetery with gray paint.
Local councilor Afrasiab Anwar condemned the act, questioning the malicious intent behind such actions within a sacred burial ground.
In response to the unrest, the Prime Minister cautioned rioters on Sunday, warning of the consequences of participating in England’s most severe unrest in over a decade.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper expressed determination for accountability by stating that there would be consequences for the perpetrators.
Cooper highlighted the influence of social media in aggravating the violence.
Starmer emphasized that the law applies both offline and online, stressing that criminal behavior will not be tolerated in any form.
On Tuesday, Alexander condemned Elon Musk’s remarks predicting “civil war” in the UK as “deeply irresponsible,” urging for restraint and calm during these turbulent times.
Authorities attributed the violence to individuals associated with the disbanded English Defence League, a far-right group known for their anti-Islamic ideologies, founded fifteen years ago, with ties to football hooliganism.
Rallies organized under the slogan “Enough is enough” were promoted on far-right social media platforms.
AFP