UK on high alert as far-right protests ignite anti-Muslim violence

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

RKI Web Desk

Thousands of riot police are on standby in the UK, bracing for far-right anti-Muslim protests across the country. This comes in the wake of nightly riots following the murder of three children on July 29. Mosques and migrant targets have been attacked, prompting police investigations into several racially motivated hate crimes, including an assault on a young boy in Belfast.

Far-right groups are planning demonstrations in over 30 locations, targeting immigration lawyers and asylum seeker buildings, as revealed in leaked Telegram posts. The government has deployed 6,000 specialist police to manage the unrest, with over 425 arrests and at least 120 charges so far.

The violence began after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, northwest England, killed three girls and critically injured five more children. Initial false rumors blamed a Muslim asylum seeker, but the suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Despite clarifications, initial riots targeted a mosque, sparking widespread violence in England and Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned rioters would face severe legal consequences, with substantial sentences expected soon. This unrest, the worst since the 2011 London riots, has led to travel warnings from several countries.