Thousands of riot police were on standby on Wednesday as Britain braced for potential disturbances during far-right protests nationwide. The unrest escalated following the murder of three children on July 29, leading to nightly riots targeting mosques and migrant communities. Police in Belfast are investigating several racially motivated hate crimes, including an assault on a young boy resulting in minor facial injuries. Far-right groups organized demonstrations in over 30 locations on Wednesday, with immigration lawyers and buildings housing asylum seekers as primary targets, according to leaked messages on Telegram.
The government has mobilized 6,000 specialist police to manage the disorder, with over 425 arrests and at least 120 charges made so far. The violence erupted after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, where three girls were killed and five other children critically injured. Initial false rumors on social media claimed the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker, but the suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales, whose parents are from Rwanda.
Despite the police clarification, initial disturbances in Southport focused on a mosque, and widespread violence has since spread across England and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that anyone involved in the riots will face the full force of the law, including those inciting violence online. He expects substantive sentencing for the rioters before the end of the week, aiming to send a strong message to all participants.
The unrest, described as Britain's worst since the 2011 London riots, has prompted several countries to issue travel warnings for their citizens. Demonstrators have thrown bricks and flares at police, burned cars, and attacked mosques and hotels used for asylum seekers. Several alleged perpetrators have appeared in court, with some pleading guilty. A 19-year-old man received a two-month prison sentence, and another man was convicted for assaulting a police officer.
The new government has pledged a tough response to the disorder. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander announced the creation of an additional 500 prison places. Police attribute the disorder to supporters of the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL), a far-right group linked to football hooliganism. EDL founder Tommy Robinson has been accused of stoking tensions, and Cypriot police have offered assistance if needed.
The rallies were promoted on far-right social media under the slogan "Enough is enough." Interior Minister Yvette Cooper highlighted the role of social media in escalating the violence. Tech billionaire Elon Musk compared Britain to the Soviet Union in a recent dispute with the UK government, drawing criticism from a spokesperson for Starmer.
