Edited by:  Fern Sidman

The United Kingdom has been rocked by a series of violent clashes between police and far-right protesters in the wake of a tragic stabbing attack in Southport, northwest England. According to a report that appeared on Sunday on the CNN web site, the unrest, which has spread across multiple cities, has seen dozens arrested and numerous injuries reported, as scenes of chaos and burning storefronts dominate social media feeds.

BREAKING: Moment anti-immigration rioters smash through Holiday Inn hotel door in Rotherham

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The current wave of unrest was sparked by a brutal stabbing during a Taylor Swift-themed yoga class in Southport, which resulted in the deaths of three children. The attacker, 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, was confirmed by UK police to be a native of Cardiff, Wales.  He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. CNN reported that a judge lifted the reporting restrictions usually applied to minors, allowing Rudakubana to be publicly named. He faces charges of three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article.

Following the attack, far-right activists quickly took to social media, disseminating false claims that the attacker was an illegal immigrant. This narrative, despite being debunked by police, has fueled a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment and mobilized far-right groups across the country, the CNN report observed. The falsehoods have exacerbated tensions and led to violent demonstrations, with protesters rallying under xenophobic slogans.

In response to the escalating violence, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting with senior ministers on Saturday to address the situation. CNN reported that a Downing Street spokesperson stated that the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s full support for police actions against extremists causing unrest. “The right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things,” Starmer asserted, highlighting the distinction between peaceful protest and violent actions.

This fake news “reporter” in England is saying WHITE PEOPLE are rioting…

… just as Muslim men walk by carrying MACHETES

Screw these people. pic.twitter.com/MdnnALALhJ

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 4, 2024

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned the violence, labeling the actions of the protesters as “thuggery” and stressing that such behavior has no place in British society, according to the information provided in the CNN report. Her statement called attention to the government’s firm stance against the provocations and its commitment to maintaining public order.

Saturday saw particularly intense clashes, with social media flooded with videos of anti-immigrant protesters gathered along Liverpool’s riverside. Chanting slogans such as “Stop the Boats,” referencing the small vessels used by asylum seekers to cross the English Channel, protesters engaged in confrontations with police, as was indicated in the CNN report. The Liverpool city police reported several injuries among officers as they struggled to contain the disorder.

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From Manchester to Belfast, the streets were filled with demonstrators voicing opposing views on immigration, multiculturalism, and racism, reflecting the deepening divides within British society, as was explained in the CNN report.

In Manchester, the UK’s third-largest city, crowds of protesters marched through the city center carrying placards with slogans such as “Save our Kids.” This slogan, reflecting concerns about the impact of immigration and multicultural policies on British society, was met with a significant counter-protest from anti-racism campaigners. CNN reported that the anti-racism demonstrators carried signs with slogans like “No to Fascism and No to Racism,” emphasizing their stance against the far-right ideologies propelling the original protest.

The invasion of England is completed. #England #Islam #ALLAHUEKBER https://t.co/JyeTOfncJM

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Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, saw some of the most intense clashes. Riot police were deployed after protesters set off projectiles and fireworks near the City Hall. The situation escalated during tense exchanges between “far-right” demonstrators and a pro-Hamas counter-protest. As was noted in the CNN report, the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ reported that a woman from the counter-protest was injured by a firework explosion.

In a notable development, Belfast’s anti-immigrant protest managed to unite individuals from the traditionally divided Unionist and Nationalist communities. According to the information contained in the CNN report, protesters from both sides gathered in significant numbers, waving English and Irish national flags alongside anti-immigrant placards, demonstrating a rare moment of unity fueled by shared opposition to immigration.

In the U.K., Masked Muslim Mobs Chanting “Allahu Akbar” Come Out Against the People Protesting Following the Brutal Murder of 3 Little Girls by Axel Muganwa Rudakubana in Middlesbrough. #UK #MuslimMobs
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Stand-offs and clashes were reported in several other cities as well, following a week of similar incidents. The report on the CNN web site said that anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate estimated that as many as 35 protests were scheduled to take place over the weekend under a “broad anti-multiculturalism, anti-Muslim and anti-Government agenda.” The scale and coordination of these protests highlighted the growing mobilization of far-right groups across the country.

Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Friday, announcing that police chiefs had agreed to “step up resourcing” for the weekend. This included deploying additional officers and riot units to areas with expected high tensions. CNN reported that to further support law enforcement, the UK Crown Prosecutor Service announced the deployment of 70 extra lawyers to assist with charging advice and maintaining public safety. This move, shared in a post on the social media platform X, underscored the seriousness of the situation and the government’s commitment to addressing it.

The protests led to numerous arrests across the country. According to respective police departments:

Hull: At least 20 arrests.

Liverpool: At least 11 arrests.

Sunderland: At least 12 arrests.

Belfast: Two arrests.

Bristol: Multiple arrests.

The violence, which has spread across multiple cities, has led to numerous arrests, injuries, and a heightened sense of fear and division within communities.

Earlier this week, the Muslim Council of Britain issued a stark warning to mosques nationwide, urging them to bolster security measures in response to “deeply disturbing scenes of mobs targeting mosques in Southport and Hartlepool,” the CNN report said.  These incidents have not only incited fear among Muslim communities but also highlighted the persistent threat posed by these groups.

In Sunderland, northeast England, violent protests on Friday resulted in the arrest of ten individuals and injuries to four police officers. The detainees face charges ranging from violent disorder to burglary. According to the information in the CNN report, hundreds of rioters hurled stones at police, shouted anti-Islam slogans, and targeted a local mosque, actions that law enforcement officials condemned as “completely unacceptable.”

Southport, the site of the horrifying stabbings during a Taylor Swift-themed yoga class, has also been a focal point of disorder. Unconfirmed reports and rampant speculation about the identity of the attacker prompted a crowd to take to the streets earlier this week.

In response to the escalating violence, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to tackle the surge in far-right activities. On Thursday, Starmer held a meeting with police chiefs to develop a comprehensive national plan of action aimed at addressing and curbing this disturbing trend, the CNN report disclosed.  The plan involves increased police presence in affected areas, enhanced security for vulnerable communities, and a crackdown on the dissemination of disinformation that fuels such unrest.