Far-right Riots Continue Across UK, Nearly 400 Arrested
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Loading... - Rudolf Ludwig
- 06 Aug 2024
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Violence instigated by far-right activists has continued to erupt across various parts of the United Kingdom, resulting in numerous clashes between rioters and police forces.
On Monday night, significant disturbances were reported in Belfast, Darlington in northeast England, and Plymouth in the south. Devon and Cornwall police stated that six people were arrested in Plymouth following “levels of violence across the city,” which resulted in injuries to several officers and members of the public, with two individuals being hospitalized.
“Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated,” the police force declared in a statement.
Government Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has attributed the week-long violence to far-right activists and the spread of disinformation on social media. He has vowed to impose “swift criminal sanctions” on those responsible. According to the BBC, nearly 400 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riots over the past week. On Monday, several of those charged appeared in various magistrates courts, including those in Liverpool, South Tyneside, and Hull.
The unrest began following a knife attack on a children’s dance class in Southport, located in northwestern England, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls. The initial violence erupted shortly after a vigil for the victims when a crowd targeted Southport’s mosque. Since then, mobs have attacked hotels housing asylum seekers and other mosques, driven by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport attack was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Prime Minister Starmer condemned the violence, stating, “Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest. It is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities.”
The suspect in the Southport killings, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was charged in court last week. Born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, Rudakubana moved to the Southport area in 2013. The court proceedings revealed his identity following the lifting of reporting restrictions.
The UK government continues to address the escalating violence, emphasizing the enforcement of law and order and the protection of all communities from hate-fueled attacks.
