The British police are on high alert for potential further violent demonstrations from the far-right, following several clashes triggered by misinformation online. This misinformation has falsely linked the stabbing of three children to a Muslim immigrant during a dance class inspired by Taylor Swift. Demonstrations have been promoted online in the coming days in cities such as Sunderland, Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Manchester, with slogans like “enough is enough,” “save our children,” and “stop the boats.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to restore order and announced that police across the UK will receive additional resources to prevent a “breakdown of law and order on our streets.”
John Woodcock, an advisor to the British government on political violence and unrest, stated that there is a “coordinated and targeted” attempt to incite violence. The murders of 9-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and 6-year-old Bebe King in the coastal town of Southport on Monday have shocked a nation where knife crime is a persistent issue, although mass murder is rare. Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbings and has been accused of 10 counts of attempted murder of the eight children and two adults who were injured. Rudakubana, who was born in the UK to Rwandan parents, lived near the crime scene.
A violent protest in Southport is followed by several others across the country, partly fueled by online misinformation suggesting that the perpetrator was a Muslim and an immigrant. In the UK, it is generally not permitted to name suspects under the age of 18, but Judge Andrew Menary ruled that Rudakubana could be identified to counter the spread of misinformation.
Far-right demonstrators have carried out several violent protests in response to the murders, including clashes with police outside a mosque in Southport and confrontations with police forces in London, where beer cans, bottles, and fireworks were thrown. In Hartlepool, a town in northeastern England, police officers were hit by bottles and eggs, and a police car was set on fire. Seven men aged between 28 and 54 have been charged with violent disorder and will face court.
The Muslim Council of Britain has urged mosques to review and strengthen their security protocols during Friday prayers amid fears of protests “seeking to intimidate Muslim communities and mosques.” Starmer condemned the violence and pointed to “far-right hatred” during a press conference on Thursday. “This is coordinated; this is deliberate,” said the Prime Minister. “This is not a protest that has gotten out of control. It is a group of individuals completely obsessed with violence.” Starmer also highlighted part of the responsibility that social media companies bear, although he did not announce any specific measures to address this. “Violent disorder, clearly incited online, is also a crime. It occurs on your platforms,” he added.
He mentioned that his so-called National Violent Disorder Program would enable police to move between communities and utilize facial recognition technology to identify offenders.