Recent days have seen riots erupt across the U.K. sparked by false rumors circulating online, falsely implicating an asylum seeker in a mass stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, resulting in the deaths of three girls and injuries to others.
The alleged perpetrator, identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
In the U.K., suspects under 18 are usually not named, but the presiding judge in this case decided to reveal the suspect’s identity to combat the spread of misinformation. The teenager faces three counts of murder along with ten counts of attempted murder.
Following the stabbing incident, rioters set fire to a library, attacked a mosque, and hurled flares at a statue of Winston Churchill, as tensions flare over broader immigration concerns in the U.K.
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A car burns during an anti-immigration protest in Middlesbrough, England, on Aug. 4, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
In connection with the unrest, hundreds have been arrested, with many more expected as police review CCTV, social media, and body camera footage. Despite a significant police presence aimed at public safety, authorities have cautioned that other crimes may go unaddressed due to these extensive security measures.
Sunday’s violence saw particularly intense clashes in Rotherham, where police struggled to control a multitude of rioters attempting to break into a Holiday Inn Express used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared on Sunday afternoon that law enforcement will “do whatever it takes to ensure these offenders face justice.”
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“I assure you will regret any involvement in this disorder—whether directly or indirectly by inciting it online while avoiding responsibility,” he stated. “This is not merely a protest; it is organized, violent thuggery, which is unacceptable both on our streets and online.”
Starmer described anyone targeting individuals based on their race or faith as “far-right.”
“People in this nation deserve safety, yet we have seen Muslim communities victimized, mosques attacked, and other minority groups singled out, alongside displays of Nazi salutes, assaults on police, and rampant violence accompanied by racist discourse. Therefore, I will not hesitate in labeling this for what it is: far-right thuggery,” he affirmed.
A chair is hurled at police officers as tensions escalate during an anti-immigration protest outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, on Aug. 4, 2024. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Before the situation was brought under control, police with shields faced a barrage of projectiles, including wood planks, chairs, and fire extinguishers. A nearby bin was also set on fire but was swiftly extinguished.
South Yorkshire Police, responsible for the area, reported at least ten officers injured, including one who lost consciousness.
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“The conduct we observed was utterly reprehensible. While only a minority engaged in violence and vandalism, those who merely observed are equally complicit,” stated Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield. “We are diligently investigating substantial online footage and imagery of those involved, and they should expect to be contacted shortly.”
Police engage with protesters during an anti-immigration demonstration outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, on Aug. 4, 2024. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
In Middlesbrough, tensions also flared on Sunday, as some protesters broke away from police lines. One faction marched through a neighborhood, shattering windows of homes and vehicles.
Numerous other demonstrators clashed with law enforcement at the town’s cenotaph, hurling bricks, cans, and pots at officers.
A significant number of protests over the week were organized online by groups utilizing slogans like “enough is enough,” “save our kids,” and “stop the boats.”
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Mobilization efforts came from a wide variety of social media profiles, with Tommy Robinson, leader of the English Defense League (EDL), functioning as a notable figure in amplifying these calls. Merseyside police have connected the EDL to the violent protests in Southport that occurred near the site of the stabbing incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
