In the wake of a tragic stabbing incident in Southport, where several children and adults lost their lives, British Muslims, activists, and civil rights groups have expressed concern about the rising Islamophobia and the violent unrest that followed. The city, previously marked by mourning, was shaken by riots when a local mosque was attacked, and onlookers shouted “F*** Muslims.”

Information from the police confirms that over 50 officers were injured during the riots, which erupted following a peaceful memorial service for the victims. A wave of misinformation and documentation on social media led to heightened emotions as rumors about the suspect spread. The police have announced that the 17-year-old suspect was born in Cardiff, Wales, and therefore cannot be named automatically.

The tragedy, which claimed the lives of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, is not being treated as a terrorism-related incident, according to Merseyside Police. Nevertheless, right-wing figures such as Tommy Robinson have begun to exploit the situation to incite animosity against Muslims and migrants, claiming that the government and media are withholding information.

“It is important that we do not allow a small group of individuals to spread hate and use this tragedy to divide us,” stated the Liverpool Region Mosque Network. “This inhumane attack has no connection to the Muslim community.”

Fatima Rajina, a research fellow at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, shared her fears for Muslims in Southport. “No one can tell us that our fear is imagined,” she said. “Islamophobia has always been facilitated by the manipulative rhetoric of politicians.”

Runnymede Trust, a think tank, warns that the recent riots are a result of growing Islamophobia that thrives on social media and in political debate. “Our thoughts are with the people of Southport and British Muslims across the country,” they expressed.

The Muslim Council of Britain has called for action against the rising threat from the far-right, while Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram criticized the riots as yet another traumatic event for a grieving community.

The mother of the deceased Elsie, Jenni Stancombe, appealed for calm. “Stop the violence in Southport tonight,” she wrote on social media.

The increasing fear among Muslims in the UK underscores the urgent need for efforts to combat hate and create a more inclusive society where everyone can feel safe.