Anti-monarchy group, Republic, has criticised the lack of response from the King, with its leader, Graham Smith, claiming that when the nation is in crisis, the monarch is “nowhere to be seen”…reports Asian Lite News
King Charles isn’t currently planning visits to riot hit hotspots as the monarch follows the late Queen’s lead in his response.
Royal sources have said Charles is being kept updated daily about the disorder which has plagued streets in England and Northern Ireland since three girls were fatally stabbed in Southport, Merseyside.
The Labour Government leads the response to the unrest, with Charles expected as monarch to stay out of politics.
Anti-monarchy group, Republic, has criticised the lack of response from the King, with its leader, Graham Smith, claiming that when the nation is in crisis, the monarch is “nowhere to be seen”.
But Charles appears to be following a precedent set by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who didn’t send any messages when rioting erupted in summer 2011.
Prince William and Princess Kate, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited Machan Express Coffee bar in the centre of Birmingham in August, 2011, which was ransacked during rioting in the area. After riots in Toxteth in July 1981, Charles visited David Lewis Youth Centre in the same neighbourhood of inner-city Liverpool during a two hour trip a few weeks later.
Chalres did express grief and concern after the fatal stabbings in Southport, but to date he hasn’t addressed the rioting or anti-immigration protests which have erupted since.
Historian and author, Sir Anthony Seldon, defended King Charles, telling the BBC now is not the time for the monarch to get involved.
He told the broadcaster: “The time for the King to speak, if at all, is when everything has calmed down again. The issues that have led to the riots are not going to go away quickly. We need to hear his considered thoughts then about societal harmony.”
Others have called on the King to speak out now. Historian Kate Williams told Times Radio this is the moment for Charles to talk about multiculturalism, the Commonwealth and commnity cohesion.
She told the station: “I think that if I were advising him I would suggest making that statement sooner rather than later.”
Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, said in general, the monarchy does not comment on current political events.
The expert said: “Once the riots have subsided, you might expect members of the Royal Family to visit places affected and perhaps to see them more in multicultural settings.
“We’ve perhaps already seen this a little more in this reign (not that Elizabeth II didn’t do engagements like this).”
A cursory Google search for the headline would have quickly proved that it isn’t real. The Telegraph itself has since confirmed it did not publish such an article…reports Asian Lite News
Amid an ongoing feud with the government about unrest on the country’s streets, the billionaire X owner boosted, and then deleted, an entirely-manufactured news headline Thursday pushed by a far-right political party.
Musk shared a fake headline — purporting to be from the Telegraph newspaper — that said PM Keir Starmer is “considering building ’emergency detainment camps’ on the Falkland Islands” to house far-right rioters arrested in the country’s round of race riots.
A cursory Google search for the headline would have quickly proved that it isn’t real. The Telegraph itself has since confirmed it did not publish such an article.
Musk shared the image posted by Ashlea Simon, the co-leader of Britain First. It’s a fringe far-right party in the UK known for its “invasions” of mosques and the time its senior figures have spent in jail for religiously aggravated harassment.
Though Musk deleted the tweet within an hour, he is yet to acknowledge the move. According to one UK journalist, the tweet was seen by almost two million people before it was deleted.
Simon’s initial tweet has since been hit with a “community note” — one of Musk’s X innovations that allow users to propose context to viral tweets — stating that the story isn’t real.
The social media boss has been locked in a battle with the government this week over the spread of misinformation on his platform and his own tweets as violence broke out in the UK — including his claim that “civil war is inevitable” in Britain.
The Telegraph said on Thursday it had never published the article in question. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Telegraph Media Group said: “This is a fabricated headline for an article that does not exist. We notified relevant platforms and requested that the post be taken down.”
In a post on X, the newspaper said it was “aware of an image circulating on X which purports to be a Telegraph article about ‘emergency detainment camps’. No such article has ever been published by the Telegraph.”
Musk has not apologised for sharing the fake report, but has continued to share material criticising the UK government and law enforcement authorities’ responses to the riots.
On Thursday, Musk shared a Sky News interview in which Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions in England and Wales, said police officers were scouring social media for material inciting racial hatred. “This is actually happening,” Musk said. In a separate post referring to the same clip, Musk called Parkinson “The Woke Stasi”.
During the interview, Balls repeatedly interrupted Sultana, accusing her of not answering the questions…reports Asian Lite News
British Muslim MP Zarah Sultana has accused Good Morning Britain presenter Ed Balls of attempting to patronize her during a Monday morning interview about the recent far-right riots in the UK. Labour’s Sultana engaged in a heated debate with the presenter and former politician, emphasizing the importance of labeling the far-right violence as “Islamophobic.”
“The sneering contempt of ‘journalists’ will never stop me from calling out racism and Islamophobic hate,” Sultana wrote on X.
During the interview, Balls repeatedly interrupted Sultana, accusing her of not answering the questions.
“If you want to answer the questions, you can but you don’t have to,” Balls told Sultana.
In a tense exchange, co-presenter Kate Garraway asked Sultana why it was important to use the term “Islamophobic” alongside “racist” and “thuggery” to describe the events. Balls interrupted again, stating: “They definitely said racist over the weekend.”
As Sultana explained how protesters attacked a mosque over the weekend, Balls interjected once more, saying: “But Keir Starmer has condemned that,” to which Sultana replied: “I’m just finishing the question if that’s OK.”
The incident has sparked online criticism, with some calling the episode “unacceptable and deeply uncomfortable,” and accusing Balls of being “reckless” for his repeated interruptions of the MP.
Balls and ITV faced scrutiny for interviewing his wife, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, on the same program, raising questions about the impartiality of the interview.
The UK has been grappling with a wave of far-right violence, including attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.
The unrest follows a stabbing rampage at a dance class in Southport that left three girls dead and several injured, fueled by false online rumors that the 17-year-old suspect was a Muslim immigrant.
The sentence is believed to be first imposed for a charge of violent disorder since trouble erupted after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in the seaside town of Southport…reports Asian Lite News
A British man was on Wednesday jailed for three years for violent disorder during anti-Muslim riots last week, one of the first sentences from a wave of violence after the killing of three girls in northwest England.
Derek Drummond, 58, was sentenced to three years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker by punching a police officer.
The sentence is believed to be first imposed for a charge of violent disorder since trouble erupted after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in the seaside town of Southport.
“The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was effectively hijacked by this callous behavior,” Judge Andrew Menary said.
Another man, Declan Geiran, 29, was jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and arson by setting the seatbelt of a police van on fire in Liverpool city center on Aug. 3. Liam Riley, 41, was jailed for 20 months having pleaded guilty to violent disorder and a racially-aggravated public order offense.
Thousands of riot police stood ready Wednesday as Britain remained on alert for disturbances during far-right protests across the country.
Nightly riots, during which mosques and migrant targets have been attacked, erupted after the three children were murdered.
Police said they were investigating several racially-motivated hate crimes in Belfast on Tuesday, including an attack on a young boy that left him with minor facial injuries.
And far-right groups plan demonstrations Wednesday in more than 30 locations, with immigration lawyers and buildings hosting asylum seekers primary targets, according to posts on messaging app Telegram leaked to the British media.
Police had prepared for another night of violence at 100 locations following a week of rioting and disorder fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls..reports Asian Lite News
Far-right demonstrations that had been anticipated by police in dozens of locations across Britain failed to materialize Wednesday as peaceful anti-racism protesters instead showed up in force.
Police had prepared for another night of violence at 100 locations following a week of rioting and disorder fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls. Many businesses had boarded up windows and closed down in fear of what lay ahead.
Stand up to Racism and other groups had planned counter-protests in response, but in most places they reclaimed their streets with nothing to oppose.
In London, Bristol, Oxford, Liverpool and Birmingham, large, peaceful crowds gathered outside agencies and law firms specializing in immigration that had been listed by internet chat groups as possible targets of far-right activity.
In resounding choruses they chanted: “Whose streets? Our streets!”
It was a vast change from the chaos that has erupted on streets throughout England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, since July 30.
Cities and towns have been wracked by riots and looting for the past week as angry mobs, encouraged by far-right extremists, clashed with police and counter-demonstrators. The disturbances began after misinformation spread about the stabbing rampage that killed three girls in the seaside community of Southport, with social media users falsely identifying the suspect as an immigrant and a Muslim.
Rioters spouting anti-immigrant slogans have attacked mosques and hotels housing asylum-seekers, creating fear in Muslim and immigrant communities. In recent days, reports have emerged of violent counterattacks in some areas.
The head of London’s Metropolitan Police Service said earlier Wednesday that officers were focused on protecting immigration lawyers and services. In addition to thousands of officers already deployed, about 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London.
“We’ll protect those people,” Commissioner Mark Rowley said. “It is completely unacceptable, regardless of your political views, to intimidate any sector of lawful activity, and we will not let the immigration asylum system be intimidated.”
By early late evening, though, with the exception of scattered disturbances and some arrests, trouble had not erupted.
A crowd of immigrant supporters that quickly grew to several hundred in the London neighborhood of North Finchley found themselves largely alone with several dozen police officers.
The crowd chanted “refugees welcome” and “London against racism.” Some held signs saying “Stop the far right,” “Migration is not a crime” and “Finchley against Fascism.”
At one point, an unruly man who had been shouting at the group and pulling his shirt up to show off an eagle tattoo was punched by a protester. He was led away by someone and officers questioned a possible suspect.
Outside an immigration center in the Walthamstow area in east London, an anti-racism protest leader barked “fascist scum” to which a crowd of hundreds responded: “off our streets.”
In Liverpool, hundreds showed up to defend the Asylum Link immigration center. A grandmother held a placard reading “Nans Against Nazis” and someone else held a sign saying, “When the poor blame the poor only the rich win.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the previous disturbances as “far-right thuggery,” rejecting any suggestion that the riots were about the government’s immigration policies. He has warned that anyone taking part in the violence would “face the full force of the law.”
Police have made more than 400 arrests and are considering using counter-terrorism laws to prosecute some rioters. The government has pledged to prosecute those responsible for the disorder, including those who use social media to incite the violence.
Among the first to be sentenced was Derek Drummond, 58, who received three years in prison after admitting to violent disorder and punching a police officer in the face in Southport on July 30. He was one of three men jailed after their cases were heard Wednesday at Liverpool Crown Court.
“The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest,? said Jonathan Egan, the senior district crown prosecutor. “Many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a post on X that the police, city hall and community leaders were working to protect targeted buildings and places of worship.
“I know the shocking scenes have left many Muslims and minority ethnic communities scared and fearful, so I ask my fellow Londoners to check on their friends and neighbors and show them that care and compassion is what Londoners are all about,” he said.
In Walthamstow, real estate agents shut down storefronts early and told staff to work from home. The Nags Head pub informed customers via social media it wouldn’t open because of “potential protest.” The council closed the local library.
Smaller communities were affected as well. Businesses owners in Westcliff-on-Sea, in southern England, boarded up shopfronts.
Saira Hussain, who runs a small architectural practice, described the unrest as “upsetting.”
“I’m a third-generation British Pakistani,” she said. “I was born here, studied here, trade here and employ people from this country. I bet I’ve contributed much more to this country than any of these people that are causing trouble.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives a press conference at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit bringing together world leaders at Blenheim Palace. Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street
Starmer said that even those participating in riotous activities online will not be spared…reports Asian Lite News
As far-right groups prepare for rioting, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they would “feel the full force of the law” on Tuesday.
Following an emergency meeting, Starmer said that he expected “substantive sentencing” for those held so far for rioting before the end of the week.
In the week-long rioting by far-right mobs in the United Kingdom, more than 400 people have been arrested. The mobs mounted anti-immigrant riots after the murder of three girls last months in Southport town. This is the worst rioting in the United Kingdom in several years.
The Sun has reported that riots have taken place in at least 23 locations across England and Northern Ireland since Friday. The mobs have also attacked and injured police personnel with bricks, bottles, and firebombs.
The situation may further escalate on Wednesday as the police have intelligence that riots are being planned at as many as 39 locations across the UK. The newspaper reported that an ‘arson manual’ is being circulated in an online forum as rioters plan to attack 39 immigrants’ centres on Wednesday.
In the wake of such threats, Starmer said that around 6,000 specialised riot-control police personnel are being deployed across the UK to contain the situation.
Following the emergency meeting with top ministers and security officers, Starmer said that riots will “feel the full force of the law”.
Speaking to reporters, Starmer said that everyone involved in the rioting will be sentenced within a week and there will not be lengthy trials.
“Those involved will feel the full force of the law…Over 400 people now have been arrested, 100 have been charged —some in relation to online activity— and a number of them are already in court. I’m now expecting substantive sentencing before the end of this week,” said Starmer.
Starmer said that even those participating in riotous activities online will not be spared.
“That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder,” said Starmer.
The top British prosecutor has said that terrorism charges are being considered against rioters. Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecution, said rioters will go to prison for sure and there is no doubt about it.
“There are sentencing guidelines which indicate that many people who have been caught up in this disorder will face immediate imprisonment. There should be no doubt about that. They are going to prison, said Parkinson, as per The Sun.
Parkinson further said that while terrorism charges are being considered broadly, such charges have already been slapped in at least one case.
“We are willing to look at terrorism offences. I’m aware of at least one instance where that is happening. Where you have organised groups planning activity for the purposes of advancing [an] ideology… planning really, really serious disruption then yes, we will consider terrorism offences,” said Parkinson.
New Delhi & Mumbai, top searched domestic destinations by Indian travellers.(photo:IANSLIFE)
The advisory was issued following a wave of violent protests that have erupted across the UK, leading to significant disruptions and raising safety concerns for both residents and visitors…reports Asian Lite News
The High Commission of India in London on Tuesday released a travel advisory, advising Indian citizens to be vigilant when travelling to the UK due to recent protests and incidents of violence in the area.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the High Commission of India in London said, “Indian travellers would be aware of recent disturbances in some parts of the United Kingdom. The High Commission of India in London is closely monitoring the situation. Visitors from India are advised to stay vigilant and exercise due caution while travelling in the UK. It is advisable to follow local news and advisories issued by local security agencies, and to avoid areas where protests are underway.”
It further said that in case of an emergency, Indian travellers can contact the High Commission in London.
The advisory was issued following a wave of violent protests that have erupted across the UK, leading to significant disruptions and raising safety concerns for both residents and visitors.
Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia are some of the other countries that have issued warnings to citizens in or travelling to the UK.
In a statement Monday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Demonstrations by far-Right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances been unruly. These disturbances have only been aggravated by the unfortunate deaths of the three girls and it has spawned an anti-immigration narrative, with particular emphasis on Muslim immigrants or persons of colour being targeted.”
Malaysia was the first country to react to the violence in the UK, issuing an advisory Sunday that urged its citizens to “stay away from protest areas, remain vigilant” and to follow updates and guidance from the local authorities.
Indonesia later joined Malaysia, with its embassy in London appealing to its citizens to remain vigilant and avoid the demonstrations.
The letter says that “every British citizen has a right to be respected and a responsibility to respect others,” and calls for the building of a “cohesive and harmonious society for all.”…reports Asian Lite News
Leading religious figures in Britain have condemned week-long nationwide rioting as a “stain on our national moral conscience.” Two of Britain’s top Sunni and Shiite imams, as well as the chief rabbi, archbishop of Canterbury and Catholic archbishop of Westminster, penned a letter to The Times decrying the “hatred, violence and vandalism” of rioters. They also praised volunteers who have repaired damage in cities across Britain.
The riots, chiefly organized by far-right figures, broke out across the UK in the wake of the July 29 Southport murders, in which three young girls were stabbed to death. “Over the last few days, we have watched in horror as a small minority has brought hatred, violence and vandalism to towns and cities across the country,” the letter says.
“We have seen anti-Muslim hatred and the targeting of mosques; asylum seekers and refugees attacked; violence directed towards the police and private property, all of which are a stain on our national moral conscience.”
The letter was signed by figures representing the Abrahmic religions, including Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board; and Dr. Sayed Razawi, director general of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society. Muslim leaders in Britain have urged people to avoid taking part in counter-protests.
The letter says that “every British citizen has a right to be respected and a responsibility to respect others,” and calls for the building of a “cohesive and harmonious society for all.”
Community leaders from the Muslim, Jewish and Hindu religions have separately issued statements condemning the violent rioting.
They have also released guidance outlining safety measures for worshippers to take when attending religious sites.
In Huddersfield, where fears of new rioting mounted, the local Council of Mosques advised Muslims to “refrain from actions that could escalate the situation.”
A council statement said: “We urge all community members to remain peaceful and avoid engaging in any counter-protests.
“It is vital that we trust the authorities to handle this situation and allow them to work without interference.”
UK calls for ‘swift action’ to restore democracy in Bangladesh
Britain on Monday called for “swift action” to restore democracy in Bangladesh even as reports of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina seeking UK asylum emerged from India, where she arrived after fleeing Dhaka amid violent protests.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson told reporters during a briefing at 10 Downing Street that he was “deeply saddened” by the violence in Bangladesh in recent weeks.
It came as crowds gathered in the heavily British Bangladeshi hub of east London waving the country’s flag in celebration of Hasina’s downfall.
“We hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security for people in Bangladesh,” Starmer’s spokesperson said in response to a question on the situation in Bangladesh.
There was no comment regarding speculation around London being the final destination of Hasina, whose niece – Tulip Siddiq, the daughter of UK dual national Sheikh Rehana – is based in north London as a Labour Party member of Parliament from Hampstead and Highgate.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is yet to comment on any formal request for asylum in the UK.
“They are gone! A whole despotic regime with its dislike of criticism, contested elections and feed access to telecommunications and the wider internet overthrown. PM resigned and was in hiding in India allegedly. Good to see some real-time accurate reporting from inside Bangladesh,” Rupa Huq, a Bangladeshi-origin Labour MP from Ealing Central and Acton in west London, said in a post on X.
Earlier, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman made a televised address to say Hasina has resigned and an interim government is taking over the responsibilities.
The student-led protests in Bangladesh started last month against a controversial job quota scheme and turned into anti-government agitation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the far right for the unrest and backed police to take strong action…reports Asian Lite News
Far-right protesters have clashed with police at several rallies as unrest linked to misinformation about the murder of three young girls in a stabbing attack spread across the United Kingdom.
Riots involving hundreds of far-right anti-immigration protesters have erupted in several towns and cities in recent days after false information spread rapidly on social media that the suspect in Monday’s knife attack at a dance class for children in Southport was a Muslim immigrant.
Police have said the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, 17, was born in Cardiff, Wales, but protests by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim demonstrators have continued, descending into violence and rioting, including in the northeastern city of Sunderland on Friday evening.
Demonstrators threw chairs, flares and bricks at officers in the northwestern English city of Liverpool, while scuffles between police and protesters broke out in nearby Manchester.
Merseyside Police said “a number of officers have been injured as they deal with serious disorder” in Liverpool city centre.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Muslim group and an anti-racism rally.
Some businesses in the city reported damage to property.
In Leeds, approximately 150 people carrying English flags chanted, “You’re not English any more” while counterprotesters shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”. Opposing groups of protesters also faced off in the central city of Nottingham.
Authorities in the eastern city of Hull said four people were arrested and three officers were injured while dealing with protests where bottles were thrown.
At protests in London, police arrested several people including one for making a Nazi salute towards a counter-protester.
Mosques across the country have been advised to strengthen security, while police have deployed extra officers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first big test since being elected a month ago, has condemned the “far right” for the violence and backed police to take strong action.
Starmer held talks with senior ministers on Saturday and said there was “no excuse for violence” at the protests.
The last time major widespread violence erupted in the UK was in 2011 when thousands took to the streets for five nights after police shot dead a Black man in London.
On Friday night, hundreds of anti-immigration demonstrators in Sunderland threw stones at police in riot gear near a mosque, before overturning vehicles, setting a car alight and starting a fire near a police station.
Four injured police officers were taken to hospital and 12 people were arrested, Mark Hall, chief police superintendent of the Sunderland area, told reporters on Saturday.
“This was not a protest. This was unforgivable violence and disorder,” Hall said.
Rioters will “pay the price” for the wave of violent clashes that has spread across the UK, ministers warned on Saturday, after a day in which police battled rival groups of demonstrators in the worst outbreak of civil disorder in Britain for more than a decade.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said the police would have the government’s full support to take the strongest possible action. “Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,” she said.
“Anyone who gets involved in criminal disorder and violent thuggery on our streets will have to pay the price and they should expect there to be arrests, prosecutions, penalties, and the full force of the law including imprisonment and travel bans. There are consequences for breaking the law.”
The widespread nature of the clashes poses the first major challenge to Keir Starmer’s new government, which is now facing demands to introduce emergency powers to stop further violence and to recall parliament.
In the protests that spread across the nation, bricks were hurled at police officers in Stoke-on-Trent, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast, and windows of a hotel which has been used to house migrants were smashed in Hull, where three police officers were injured and four people arrested. Several officers were also injured during “serious disorder” in Liverpool city centre, where bricks, bottles and a flare were thrown and one officer hit on the head with a chair. Greater Manchester police said a dispersal notice had been authorised for the city centre and scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other in Nottingham’s Old Market Square with bottles and other items thrown from both sides.
About 150 people carrying St George’s Cross flags, shouting “you’re not English any more” and “paedo Muslims off our street”, were greatly outnumbered in Leeds by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”. Skirmishes broke out between demonstrators and punks – in town for a festival – in Blackpool, with bottles and chairs being thrown.
Keir Starmer held a meeting of senior ministers on Saturday in which he said police had been given full support to tackle extremists who were attempting “to sow hate by intimidating communities”. He also made it clear that the right to freedom of expression and the violent scenes over recent days were “two very different things”.
Police are preparing for more violent disorder this weekend as far-right activists plan rallies in at least eight towns and cities across the UK. Posters shared on Telegram, the encrypted messaging app, and other social media channels call for “patriots” to take action, saying “enough is enough.”…reports Asian Lite News
Hampshire Police are seeking seven individuals after objects were hurled outside a hotel housing migrants during a protest in Aldershot. The police reported that a minority of the 200 protesters outside the Potters International Hotel were involved in the disruption on Wednesday evening. The force has released images of eight people it would like to identify.
This protest follows multiple pockets of unrest across the country after three girls were killed in the Merseyside town of Southport on Monday. Police anticipate more violent disorder this weekend as far-right activists plan rallies in cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Belfast, Bristol, and Hull. Some flyers urge people to congregate outside mosques.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, appeared in court charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder after eight other children and two adults were seriously injured.
Appealing for witnesses, a Hampshire Police spokesman said: “Investigations are underway today to take action against those who sparked disruption in Aldershot last night.” He noted that while “the majority of attendees gathered in a peaceful manner,” a minority engaged in criminal activity, throwing objects and subjecting people to racial abuse.
Police have not directly linked the disruption in Aldershot to the Southport attack.
Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot, said the situation had been “exacerbated” by people from outside the community. “There is no justification for disorderly behavior and these scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough,” she posted on X. “We all support our shared right to peacefully protest, but we will not stand for people coming to our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community.”
Meanwhile, seven men have been charged after disorder broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday, according to Cleveland Police. Officers were attacked with missiles, glass bottles, and eggs in Hartlepool’s Murray Street area. An 11-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of arson after a police car was set alight in Hartlepool.
More than 100 people were arrested in central London on Wednesday as officers clashed with protesters on Whitehall during a demonstration. There was also unrest in Southport on Tuesday, hours after a peaceful vigil attended by thousands to remember the girls who died.
Tough on Crime
After two nights of protests fuelled by false rumors spread online, the prime minister announced a crackdown on ‘far-right thugs.’
Starmer announced the creation of a new police unit to tackle civil unrest across the country. Speaking in a televised speech, he outlined plans for increased cooperation among police forces to address such incidents.
The prime minister vowed to stop the far-right from coordinating a “summer of riots.” “It’s not protest,” he said. “It’s not legitimate. It’s crime. Violent disorder. An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice. On behalf of the British people who expect their values and their security to be upheld, we will put a stop to it.”
“These thugs are mobile. They move from community to community. We must have a policing response that can do the same. Shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology, and preventative action — criminal behavior orders — to restrict their movements before they can board a train.”
Asked if he was worried Britain could face a summer of riots, he said: “This is coordinated, this is deliberate, this is not a protest that has got out of hand. It is a group of individuals bent on violence.”
Starmer added police would ensure any further disorder “is met with the most robust response in the coming days and weeks.” He also threatened to take action against social media companies, accusing them of allowing violent disorder to be “whipped up” on their platforms. “Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online, is also a crime. It is happening on your premises. The law must be upheld everywhere. That is the single most important duty of government. Service rests on security. We will take all necessary action to keep our streets safe.”
One flyer circulated online calls for people to gather in Leeds, stating: “All patriots do this for your town and city against terrorism. What we have seen lately is an attack on British people. Let’s get out in numbers.” The Belfast group calls on “all well-intentioned Christians, parents, and law-abiding citizens” to protest peacefully but urges attendees to march on a local Islamic center, adding: “Bring your Christian flags and banners.”
A group called Southport Wake Up on Telegram released map routes outside mosques in Liverpool, calling for a “mass deportation” of people and “death to traitors.”
