- After no more riots, hope for peace in England
After the absence of new far-right disturbances in England, hope is growing for a lasting return to normality. Many cities had feared new riots on Wednesday evening, but instead, thousands took to the streets against hate and violence. Far-right individuals were barely visible. Relief was palpable across the country.
Riots in several cities in England and Northern Ireland had kept the country on edge for days. There were attacks on security forces, asylum seeker accommodations, mosques, and shops. Bricks, fence posts, and other projectiles were thrown. Cars and buildings were set on fire. Dozens of officers were injured.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer attributed the largely peaceful evening to the police and justice system. "I think the fact that we didn't experience the feared unrest last night is due to having many police officers on duty (...)," said the Labour politician.
Furthermore, the swift prosecution by the justice system sent a "very strong message," he said, but he still convened a further meeting of the national crisis committee Cobra.
Long prison sentences handed down
The riots were sparked by false reports on the internet about the suspected perpetrator of a knife attack on children in Southport near Liverpool at the end of July, in which three girls aged around 12 were killed and others injured.
It was claimed that the suspected perpetrator was an irregular immigrant with a Muslim name - both claims are false. The suspect is a 17-year-old born in Britain as the son of Rwandan immigrants.
The Crown Prosecution Service said that around 150 people have been charged so far. Nearly 500 had been arrested beforehand. In some cases, long prison sentences have been imposed.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan thanked those who demonstrated peacefully and the security forces. He added: "And to all the far-right thugs who still want to spread hate and division - you will never be welcome here."
Scotland Yard chief speaks of "successful evening"
The relief was also reflected in the headlines of the newspapers. "The night anti-hate protesters stood up to the thugs" headlined the conservative tabloid "Daily Mail", "Thousands take to the streets to confront the threat from the right" read the front page of "The Guardian".
Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley spoke of a "very successful evening" and praised the engagement of the peaceful counter-protests. "We had thousands of officers on the streets and I think the display of strength and quite frankly, the demonstration of unity of people have together overcome the challenges," he said, according to the BBC.
Organization: 25,000 marched against violence
The organization Stand Up to Racism said that around 25,000 people gathered across the country to protest against far-right violence. Among them were many in the London borough of Walthamstow, in east London, as well as in the cities of Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, and Sheffield.
Police and state secretary Diana Johnson was not yet ready to give the all-clear despite the developments. It's good that the violence and crime of the past days have not been repeated, she said to the news channel Sky News, but there are announcements for further far-right protests.
Regional parliament in Belfast to hold special session
In addition to English cities, riots also occurred in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast. Authorities believe that paramilitary forces were involved in these incidents.
More than 25 years after the end of the civil war between Catholics and Protestants, armed splinter groups still exist in this part of the UK. This time, however, the violence was directed at the police and the Muslim minority, whose businesses were targeted in attacks.
During a special session of the regional parliament, lawmakers from both religious backgrounds strongly condemned the violence. Co-First Minister Michelle O'Neill of the Catholic-republican party Sinn Féin addressed the rioters, saying: "We see you, we reject you and we reject your attitudes and actions."
Despite the long prison sentences handed down for those involved, there were still concerns about future far-right protests.The authorities decided to keep a close eye on any excluded individuals who might incite unrest.
