The United Kingdom is on high alert as fears mount over potential far-right riots planned across several cities, with anti-racist groups mobilizing counter-protests in response. Police are preparing for possible violence amid reports of up to 100 gatherings planned by far-right groups, following days of unrest that have already led to over 400 arrests.
Activists monitoring far-right communications warn that Wednesday could see attacks on dozens of locations, including solicitors’ offices, advice groups supporting migrants, and immigration centers. In response, counter-protest organizers like Stand Up to Racism are calling on Britons to “mobilise to defend immigration lawyers, refugee charities and asylum support centres.”
The riots, which began in Southport following a stabbing attack that killed three girls on July 29, have been fueled by misinformation linking the crime to immigration. Despite the suspect being identified as a Welsh-born teenager, far-right agitators have used the incident to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has chaired a second Cobra emergency meeting to coordinate the government’s response. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place,” Starmer stated. Reports suggest nearly 6,000 police officers have been mobilized to deal with the unrest.
The spread of disinformation online has played a significant role in escalating tensions. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue has pointed to social media algorithms as contributors to the spread of anti-Muslim and anti-migrant narratives. High-profile figures like Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), have been accused of inflaming tensions with controversial statements.
Many at-risk communities trace the growth of racism to political rhetoric. The “Stop the boats” slogan, originally used by the Conservative government to address undocumented migration, has been adopted by rioters. Critics argue that years of anti-immigration narratives from political leaders have contributed to the current climate of unrest.
Amidst the tensions, some community leaders offer a different perspective. Shah Khan, father of former world champion boxer Amir Khan, emphasized the positive impact of immigration, stating, “We as a community we all get on. I don’t think the genuine Boltonians here are involved in these sorts of riots.”
Credit: aljazeera.com
