Several right-wing demonstrations across the UK escalated into violence on Saturday night, as anti-immigration protesters clashed with police following the tragic murder of three children by a teenager of African descent earlier this week.
Unrest erupted at over 30 protests held in cities such as Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Belfast, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, and Hull. These demonstrations occurred almost a week after riots in Southport, triggered by the fatal stabbing of three children and the wounding of ten others, allegedly by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Britain to Rwandan parents.
Attacks on Muslim communities in the UK are ongoing following an online misinformation campaign falsely claiming that the 17-year-old who killed three children at a dance class in Southport was a Muslim “illegal immigrant”. pic.twitter.com/mqDIAmIQoY
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) August 4, 2024
The Southport riots quickly spread across England. In London, more than 100 people were arrested on Wednesday, and a police station in Sunderland was set on fire on Friday.
During the protests on Saturday, demonstrators shouted anti-immigration and anti-Islam slogans, despite Rudakubana not being Muslim.
In Manchester, confrontations broke out between left- and right-wing protesters, with the right-wing side throwing fences and other debris at police officers who were trying to separate the groups.
Liverpool also saw violent clashes, with two officers hospitalized after being struck by bricks and other projectiles.
In Bristol, police struggled to prevent sporadic clashes between left- and right-wing groups.
Police are now getting stoned by the British outside a migrant hotel.pic.twitter.com/FYdRMGKTje
— 9mmSMG (@9mm_smg) August 4, 2024
In a speech to the nation on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the reactions to Monday’s stabbings rather than the stabbings themselves. Starmer condemned the:
“Far-right hatred” fueling the riots
and vowed to grant police additional powers to address similar unrest in the future.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned on Saturday that additional prosecutors and prison spaces had been prepared, and that anyone involved in:
“Criminal violence and disorder” would “pay the price.”
There is nothing "patriotic" in breaking the bones of Police officers, weaponising the murder of children, assaulting members of the public, looting shops, setting fire to cars, attacking communities or targeting places of worship.
These aren't "Patriots". They're racist pricks. pic.twitter.com/FzFax3xWIR
— Red Collective (@RedCollectiveUK) August 3, 2024
