- By Vivek Raj
- Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Anti-Immigration Protests: England is witnessing its worst rioting in 13 years after disturbances linked to child murders and far-right agitators erupted nationwide on Sunday. The anti-immigration protests were triggered by a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, near Liverpool, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls earlier this week.
What’s Happening In England?
As protests gained momentum over the weekend, hundreds of rioters attempted to break into a Holiday Inn Express hotel used to house asylum seekers. The unrest saw violent clashes with police in multiple towns and cities. In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, masked anti-immigration demonstrators smashed windows at a hotel housing asylum seekers, according to AFP.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks on asylum-seeker accommodations and the spread of far-right violence. In a statement from 10 Downing Street, Starmer vowed that authorities would "do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice" and said that the violence had no place on the streets or online.
“People in this country have a right to be safe, and yet we've seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric, so no, I won't shy away from calling it what it is: far-right thuggery,” he said.
In Middlesbrough, tensions escalated as protesters broke free of police control, vandalising houses and cars, and clashing with officers at the town's cenotaph. Demonstrators in various locations across England targeted minority communities, mosques, and even a statue of Winston Churchill.
How a Rumour Fuelled Widespread Violence in the UK
The unrest began with a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, near Liverpool, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls and injured ten others. Following the attack, false rumors circulated online regarding the suspect, Axel Rudakubana.
The rumors incorrectly claimed that Rudakubana was born in Wales to Rwandan parents, and was a Muslim immigrant. This misinformation quickly spread, inciting anger among far-right supporters.
Social media played a crucial role in fueling the violence. Far-right groups and agitators used platforms to spread false information and rally supporters. The rapid dissemination of these rumors led to widespread protests and violent clashes across the country.
While suspects under 18 are typically not named in the UK, Judge Andrew Menary allowed Rudakubana's identification to counter misinformation. Rudakubana faces charges of three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
Many of the recent demonstrations have been organised online by far-right groups, using slogans like "enough is enough","save our kids," and "stop the boats" to mobilise support. A major figure in amplifying these messages is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Yaxley-Lennon, who led the English Defense League, is linked by Merseyside Police to the violent protest in Southport near the stabbing attack site.
Yaxley-Lennon, 41, was banned from Twitter in 2018 but was reinstated after the platform was acquired by Elon Musk and rebranded as X. With over 800,000 followers, he now faces an arrest warrant for contempt-of-court proceedings after leaving the UK before a scheduled hearing.
