How Online Misinformation Stoked Anti-Migrant Riots in Britain
By Times
Britain is facing its worst riots in 13 years, as a wave of violent anti-immigration protests sweep across the country.
The uprisings began after the spread of misinformation online about a mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport that killed three young girls and left numerous others injured.
False reports of the July 29 incident said that the 17-year-old suspect, whose identity was initially concealed due to laws protecting minors, was a Muslim asylum seeker.
That incorrect information sparked a wave of far-right protests and counter protests across the U.K. After mounting media pressure, a U.K. judge revealed the name of the suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Rudakubana was born in Cardiff, Wales, and is not Muslim.
More than 400 rioters have been arrested in connection with the violent protests, which broke out in predominantly English towns and cities, but also in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Far-right groups were seen looting, attacking police and locals, and performing Nazi salutes in the street. As the mobs chanted “send them home” and “Islam out,” they also destroyed mosques, a library, and graffitied racial slurs on homes.
In some of the more violent instances, rioters stormed hotels housing asylum seekers in the towns of Tamworth, Staffordshire, and Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Footage shows men in Rotherham breaking into the hotel, while those outside attempted to set the building alight.
Police have identified 100 new far-right rallies that are expected to take place on Wednesday night, including in London neighborhoods, such as North Finchley, Walthamstow, and Brentford.
Britain is facing its worst riots in 13 years, as a wave of violent anti-immigration protests sweep across the country.
The uprisings began after the spread of misinformation online about a mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport that killed three young girls and left numerous others injured.
False reports of the July 29 incident said that the 17-year-old suspect, whose identity was initially concealed due to laws protecting minors, was a Muslim asylum seeker.
That incorrect information sparked a wave of far-right protests and counter protests across the U.K.
After mounting media pressure, a U.K. judge revealed the name of the suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.
Rudakubana was born in Cardiff, Wales, and is not Muslim.
More than 400 rioters have been arrested in connection with the violent protests, which broke out in predominantly English towns and cities, but also in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Far-right groups were seen looting, attacking police and locals, and performing Nazi salutes in the street. As the mobs chanted “send them home” and “Islam out,” they also destroyed mosques, a library, and graffitied racial slurs on homes.
In some of the more violent instances, rioters stormed hotels housing asylum seekers in the towns of Tamworth, Staffordshire, and Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Footage shows men in Rotherham breaking into the hotel, while those outside attempted to set the building alight. Police have identified 100 new far-right rallies that are expected to take place on Wednesday night, including in London neighborhoods, such as North Finchley, Walthamstow, and Brentford.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence as “far-right thuggery” and “racist rhetoric,” stopping short of describing the attacks as islamophobic in a TV address.
“Let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them: Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online—that is also a crime. It’s happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere,” Starmer said.
Downing Street hosted an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday to coordinate a response with ministers and police officials. Starmer pledged the deployment of a “standing army” of specialist officers to tackle violent outbreaks.
