Violent far-right-led protests ignite in London after Southport attack
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The violence was incited by extremist far-right groups with Islamophobic, xenophobic, and fascist ideologies
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Armed British Police officers stand on duty outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London on May 23, 2017. (AFP)
Violent clashes took place between far-right protesters and police in central London late Wednesday following the spread of misinformation on social media determining that the Southport knife perpetrator was a Muslim man.
The violent protests initially sparked on Tuesday in Southport after extremist far-right social media users falsely reported that the assailant in Monday's knife attack that killed three young girls and wounded multiple children at dance class was a Muslim immigrant.
“We are aware that some protesters have breached conditions on Whitehall,” the Metropolitan Police said regarding the clashes that occurred in Whitehall, adding, “Officers are at the scene and engaging with protestors."
Police later issued an update on X that over 100 protesters had been "arrested for offenses including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions," which resulted in more than 50 officers receiving minor injuries.
English Defense League provoked protesters
Clashes between the demonstrators and the police were incited by members of an anti-Muslim xenophobic fascist group known as the English Defense League (EDL), who provoked protesters by attacking a local mosque with projectiles.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the violent riots as "thuggery", pledging that the assailants will face "the full force of the law."
Following Tuesday's violent situation, the Merseyside Police released a statement on Wednesday claiming they had "intelligence about other events taking place potentially this evening and the weekend." Additionally, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said Southport's police "are planning" for potential incidents, asserting her confidence in Merseyside's sufficient sources.
Copy riot in Hartlepool and misinformation
Far-right demonstrators also took their violence to the streets of Hartlepool in a copycat riot that included missile throwing in and around a Muslim community.
“There remains a policing presence in the Murray Street area while officers deal with disorder after responding to a protest -- several arrests have already been made,” local police stated on Facebook, adding that roads remain closed and warning people to avoid the area.
"At this stage, there have been four arrests for various offences, including public order and affray, and they have been taken into custody," police said after violent clashes continued on Thursday morning where rioters set a vehicle on fire and punched an Asian man.
The misinformation about the alleged identity of the Southport attacker was spread on social media by the EDL and another far-right group called Britain First, as well as far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The social media posts were trending under the hashtag #enoughisenough, reaching over 100,000 social media accounts and over one million views.
2 children killed, 9 injured in stabbing attack in UK's Southport
England has reported the death of two children and injury of nine others – six critically – in a stabbing at a dance class in Southport, near Liverpool in northwest England, on Monday.
Merseyside Police announced at a press conference that a 17-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the incident. The attack also critically injured two adults.
Although counterterrorism police had volunteered to aid, according to police chief Serena Kennedy, the attack was not being investigated as a possible act of terrorism and its motive was not immediately apparent.
She also said that every injured person had been stabbed.
UK Prime Minister Starmer expressed to the media that "the events today are just truly awful, the whole country is deeply shocked... Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, families, friends and wider community. It is almost impossible to imagine the grief."
Chief Kennedy relayed that just before midday (1100 GMT), police were summoned to a property where small children were taking a dance lesson in a Taylor Swift theme.
Officers were "shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack," she added, noting that the suspect entered the room from the street and began attacking the kids, despite the adults there trying to shield them.
After detaining the man, armed police confiscated a knife.
Kennedy said, "As a mum and nana, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through."
Eleven victims with stab wounds were treated at the scene by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), and they were then transported by ambulance and helicopter to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and other nearby hospitals.
