- Right-wing riots after knife attack in London
Far-right extremists have rioted following the fatal stabbing incident in the British town of Southport, near the government seat in London. Clashes between ultra-nationalists and police occurred near Downing Street, with at least a dozen people arrested, as reported by Sky News.
In Southport, police were deployed in large numbers in the evening to prevent further riots. The situation was tense but calm.
The ultra-nationalists accuse authorities of lying about the origin of the suspected stabber. He allegedly killed three girls aged six, seven, and nine, and injured eight others and two adults in the northwest English coastal town on Monday. Misinformation on the internet had spread rumors that he was an irregularly arrived Muslim asylum seeker.
Police denied these claims, which were also spread by a Russian state media outlet. The 17-year-old suspect was born in Britain, according to police. His parents are from Rwanda, according to BBC information. Police believe it was a lone attacker and not a terrorist act. The motive remains unclear. Investigators were granted more time to question the suspect.
Clashes with the police
TV footage from London showed clashes between the right-wing and police in the government district. Protesters threw bottles, cans, and even fireworks at the fence to Downing Street. The protest was under the banner "Enough is enough". Participants chanted "Rule Britannia" and "Save our children", demanding a stop to the entry of irregular migrants in slogans.
The night before, around 200 to 300 people rioted in Southport after a peaceful vigil. They attacked a mosque and then threw bricks, trash cans, and street signs at police. 53 officers were injured, with 8 seriously hurt, suffering broken bones, concussions, and lacerations. One officer was knocked unconscious. Three police dogs were also injured, and several police cars were set on fire.
Most of the rioters were far-right extremists, with four people arrested so far, according to Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of the Merseyside Police.
Southport cleans up
Many residents in Southport joined the cleanup efforts. Local businessman Norman Wallis told the PA news agency that the rioters were not from the area but had traveled by bus and car to cause trouble. "The people of Southport are cleaning up this mess today," Wallis said.
Critics accused right-wing populist politician Nigel Farage, who played a significant role in the Brexit campaign, of stirring up sentiment. The leader of the Reform UK party had speculated in a video uploaded to X that authorities were "hiding the truth".
In Southport, rioters reportedly set cars and trash cans on fire. Local MP Patrick Hurley told BBC Radio 4 that the far-right extremists had exploited the tragedy for their political purposes and attacked "the same first responders and the same police officers" who had stopped the attacker on Monday. The chairman of the mosque, Ibrahim Hussein, told reporters that he and eight members of the congregation had been trapped in the building and only escaped with a police escort.
The British government strongly condemned the riots. The new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, warned that rioters would face the full force of the law.
"The individuals who hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and brutality have offended the grieving community," Starmer emphasized at X. The Prime Minister, who has been in office for only a few weeks, laid flowers at the scene. However, he was harassed by onlookers who demanded a tougher stance against migrants.
X-Post Keir Starmer Statement Yvette Cooper Statement Merseyside Police Live Updates Sky News
After the riots in Southport, local businesses joined efforts to clean up the town. Norman Wallis, a local businessman, stated that the rioters were not from the area but had traveled to cause trouble.
The far-right extremists who rioted in Southport also clashed with police near Downing Street in London, leading to several arrests.
