- England riots: police prepare for "big day"
British Police Brace for Mass Far-Right Rioting
According to media reports, British police are preparing for massive far-right riots. Protests and potential unrest are expected at 30 locations, including the capital London, on the "Big Day," as reported by Sky News citing security sources.
Reports suggest that 6,000 police officers will be on standby. However, doubts remain about whether this will be sufficient. Law enforcement agencies are also relying on deterrence: Over 400 troublemakers have been arrested, with around 100 already charged. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander has stated that over 560 additional prison places will be created from next week.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired another meeting of the national Cobra crisis committee on Tuesday evening to discuss the situation with cabinet members and security force representatives.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, he said he expects "substantial convictions" of troublemakers by the end of the week. "This should send a powerful message to all those involved, directly or online, that they will be held accountable within a week," said the Labour politician.
Far-right violence in England and Northern Ireland has kept the country on edge for days. There have been attacks on security forces, asylum seeker accommodations, and mosques. Cars and buildings have been set on fire, and bricks, fence posts, and other objects have been used as projectiles. Dozens of police officers have been injured.
Media reports suggest that police expect law firms and advisory services supporting asylum seekers to be targeted by far-right troublemakers on Wednesday.
Birmingham Police refute claims of double standards after a pub was attacked by men who tried to intervene against far-right rioters. Reports suggest they were Muslims, some armed. A video circulating on social media showed a man being beaten and kicked outside the pub by a group waving a Palestinian flag. Birmingham Police refuted claims of bias and announced they would pursue any criminal offenses. A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon.
Internet Misinformation Sparks Riots
The far-right riots began after a stabbing at a dance class in Southport near Liverpool last Monday, where three young girls were killed and others injured. False information was spread online claiming the attacker was an asylum seeker with a Muslim name. Police deny this, stating it was a 17-year-old born in the UK with parents from Rwanda. The motive remains unclear.
The British government blames online instigators for the violence and has vowed to hold social media companies more accountable.
Multibillionaire Elon Musk weighed in on his social media platform X, personally attacking the British Prime Minister, whom he dubbed "TwoTierKier" (roughly "DoubleStandardKier"). Starmer declined to comment when asked by a reporter, instead emphasizing his focus on restoring safety.
Affected by the riots so far are cities across all parts of England, including London, Liverpool, Leeds, Sunderland, Nottingham, Bristol, Plymouth, and many smaller towns in their vicinity. The Northern Irish capital, Belfast, also saw severe disturbances. A man there suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a group. Authorities suspect hate as the motive behind the incident.
In Northern Ireland, police suspect the involvement of paramilitary groups. Despite the end of the Northern Ireland conflict over 25 years ago, there are still armed splinter groups from both Protestant and Catholic factions. Protestant forces are believed to be behind the disturbances. So far, there have been no riots in the British regions of Scotland and Wales.
Despite the efforts to arrest and charge potential troublemakers, some individuals may still be excluded from the list, as the police are relying on a subset of known far-right extremists. The intense online propaganda could potentially inspire other unidentified individuals to join the riots, making the situation more complex for law enforcement agencies.
