VIOLENT RIOTS
Why are people rioting in the UK?
And what has been said about the riots
Protests triggered by the death of three girls in Southport have escalated into widespread far-right riots across the UK.
Nearly 400 people have been arrested after more than a week of violence through cities like Sunderland, Manchester, and London.
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Why are people rioting in the UK?
The recent riots in the UK have been stoked by a combination of social unrest, political tension, and specific incidents that have ignited public outrage.
The tensions came after a knife attack in Southport, where a 17-year-old allegedly killed three children during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
This incident has led to widespread anger and fear, particularly among far-right groups who have used it to stir anti-immigrant sentiments and provoke violence.
Far-right organisations such as the English Defence League (EDL) and Patriotic Alternative have been instrumental in organising protests and spreading false rumours.
Read more on the riots
These groups have capitalised on the Southport tragedy to rally supporters against immigration and Islam, leading to violent clashes with police in various cities including Sunderland, Manchester, and London.
Social media has also played a significant role in escalating the situation.
The spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories on social media, especially X, previously known as Twitter, has incited fear and anger among the public, further inflaming tensions.
Some political leaders have been criticised for their harsh language, which has been perceived as legitimising anti-immigrant sentiments and contributing to the violence.
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The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region demanded that the government needs to "do something about social media".
The police response to the riots has been intense, involving officers in riot gear and multiple arrests.
Riot yobs lob petrol bombs, bricks & bottles at cops, storm pub and chuck paint over graves in ANOTHER night of carnage
Those convicted of rioting will have a "prison place waiting for them", said Justice Minister Heidi Alexander.
What areas have been affected by riots so far?
The riots in the UK have affected several areas across the country.
On Thursday August 1, 2024, significant violence broke out in Sunderland, including clashes between protestors and police, looting, and the burning of an Uber taxi and a police station.
Protestors confronted police outside a mosque, chanting anti-immigrant and Islamophobic slogans.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that the disorder, violence and damage which has occurred will not be tolerated."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
London
London has also seen considerable unrest, with far-right demonstrators clashing with police under the slogan "Enough is Enough."
More than 100 people were arrested during these protests.
Manchester
On Wednesday July 31, 2024, protestors gathered outside a Holiday Inn in Manchester, which is housing asylum seekers, chanting anti-immigrant slogans.
This led to arrests and heightened tensions in the area.
Hartlepool
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Hartlepool experienced protests where objects such as bricks and glass bottles were thrown at police.
Several officers were injured, and a police car was set on fire during these demonstrations.
Aldershot
In Aldershot, a protest outside a hotel housing migrants turned violent, with objects being thrown and racial abuse directed at individuals.
The police described the situation as "mob-type" behaviour.
Rotherham and Tamworth
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Thugs petrol bombed migrant hotels in Rotherham and Tamworth, Staffs.
The mob in Rotherham forced their way past cops into the hotel after pelting them with bricks, glass bottles and even fence panels.
Some then hurled chairs.
A towering blaze broke out as the group of 700 outside the hotel chanted: “Get them out.”
Plymouth
A number of members of the public were also injured during the clashes between police and far-right supporters in Plymouth.
Two people were taken to the hospital.
Trouble also flared in Belfast, Stoke, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol and Portsmouth.
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The incident in Southport which came before the unrest was a tragic knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, resulting in the deaths of three children.
One of the eight injured children is still in hospital, while all the other patients have now been discharged.
What has been said about the riots?
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
In a televised speech from Downing Street, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the actions of violence spreading across the country following the Southport attack, promising that the government would "ensure this is met with the most robust response in the coming days and weeks."
He added: "We make no distinction. Crime is crime.
“And so, to that end, I can announce today that, following this meeting, we will establish a national capability across police forces to tackle violent disorder.
“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 behaviour orders to restrict their movements before they can even board a train.
"In just the same way that we do with football hooligans.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper slammed the "disgraceful" riots - saying they betray Britain's values.
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Writing in , Cooper said: "Make no mistake - there will be a reckoning for the individuals who took part in this violence.
"Whatever they and some of their political supporters may tell us, these are not patriots standing up for their communities.
"They are thugs, criminals, and extremists who betray the very values our country is built on."
Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot
Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot said about the riots on her X account, previously Twitter: "I have been liaising with Hampshire Police this evening regarding a significant incident at Potters International Hotel in Aldershot, where a peaceful protest descended into intimidating behaviour.
"I have visited the scene myself this evening and have been in close touch with the Chief Inspector.
"This incident was exacerbated by people from outside our community who came here determined to cause unrest.
"I would like to pay tribute to the brave police officers who worked hard to restore order.
"There is no justification for disorderly behaviour and these scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough.
"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."
Neil Basu, former counter-terror chief
Former counter-terror chief Neil Basu said some of the violence has "crossed the line into terrorism".
Basu told the BBC: "I think we have seen serious acts of violence designed to cause terror to a section of our community."
He said the riots had been sparked by "lies spread through social media" - urging the government to take action.
Basu also slammed de facto EDL leader Tommy Robinson for "glorifying and creating violence from his sunbed in the Mediterranean".
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Magistrates across the UK have begun hearing cases connected to the recent violent disorder.
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron condemned the violence in Sunderland saying: "The shocking scenes we have witnessed in Sunderland this evening are completely unacceptable.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that the disorder, violence and damage which has occurred will not be tolerated.
"The safety of the public is our utmost priority and when we became aware that a protest had been planned, we ensured there was an increased policing presence in the city.
“During the course of the evening those officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence, which is utterly deplorable.
"In the face of these attacks, they showed unwavering commitment for which I wholeheartedly thank them, as I am certain the overwhelming majority of people in Sunderland will also.
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"We can confirm that three officers were taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.
“One has since been discharged with the other two remaining in hospital for further treatment."
How riots rocked Britain
Violent clashes broke out in dozens of towns and cities last week and over the weekend following the murders of three girls in Southport.
They have been fuelled by online posts wrongly claiming suspect Axel Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Rudakubana, 17, was actually born in Cardiff and raised as a Christian.
Terrifying violence erupted hours after the attack in Southport later spreading to Hartlepool and Manchester on Wednesday.
Riots then broke out in Sunderland and Blackpool on Friday - and in 11 more cities on Saturday and Sunday.
Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers have been attacked while shops owned by ethnic minority Brits have been looted.
Hundreds of thugs petrol-bombed a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham near Sheffield on Sunday.
Yobs also petrol-bombed a Holiday Inn hosting asylum seekers in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
And thugs lobbed petrol bombs, bricks and bottles at cops, stormed a pub and chucked paint over graves in ANOTHER night of carnage.
Rioters hurled petrol bombs at police vans in south Belfast - while cops came under attack in Plymouth.
In Burnley, gravestones in a Muslim cemetery were vandalised in what the town's council leader called an "evil act" by "heinous individuals".
Six people were arrested in Plymouth after cops were injured in the violence.
And in Birmingham masked protesters interrupted a live news broadcast shouting "F*** the EDL" - before swarming a pub.
The violence has been fuelled by a "rogues' gallery" of far-right agitators including Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate and Britain First's Paul Golding.
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