More than 140 people were arrested in riots that broke out across England over the weekend after several children were stabbed to death at a dance school in late July.
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Clashes between police and violent protesters in England (Photo: Anadolu).
A Storm of Anti-Muslim Misinformation on Social Media Fuels Far-Right Violence and Islamophobia Following a Fatal Stabbing in Southport, Northern England on July 29.
Extremist far-right social media accounts spread false information that the suspect was a Muslim immigrant. However, the police arrested the actual suspect, a 17-year-old British-born male.
Protests began on July 30 and quickly escalated into a wave of violence over the weekend, marking the most severe riots in the UK in the past 13 years.
The rioters targeted a Holiday Inn believed to house asylum seekers and clashed with the police. Some participants vandalized property and set cars on fire.
In Hartlepool, over 100 people clashed with the police, with some shouting anti-Muslim slurs.
Violence also erupted outside Downing Street in London, where rioters attacked police officers and threw flares.
A crowd of around 200 gathered outside a hotel in Aldershot housing asylum seekers.
The wave of violent protests quickly spread to multiple cities across the UK and Northern Ireland, with over 140 arrests made so far.
The UK police announced the deployment of an additional 4,000 officers to curb the violent protests.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that those participating in the riots would face strict penalties.
“The people of this country have a right to feel safe. But we have seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities vilified, assaults on police, random acts of violence, and racist abuse. I will not hesitate to label these as violent far-right extremists,” said Starmer.
The wave of riots followed a stabbing at a children’s dance school in Southport near Liverpool, Northern England, on July 29. The attack resulted in the deaths of three children and injuries to several others.
According to Anadolu
