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Violent riots gripped several British cities on Saturday (August 3), leaving police injured and property damaged in the most widespread unrest in Britain in 13 years following the killing of three girls in northwest England.
False information quickly spread on social media claiming the suspect in a knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport on Monday was a radical Muslim immigrant, before the town erupted in riots with hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters.
Police said the suspect was Axel Rudakubana, 17, who was born in Britain, but protests by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim demonstrators continued and turned violent, with arson and looting.
Violent riots broke out in four cities in different corners of the UK – Liverpool, Bristol, Hull and Belfast – as anti-immigration protesters clashed with anti-racism groups, with fights breaking out and bricks and bottles being thrown.
Many police officers were injured as they tried to stop clashes between hundreds of protesters, mostly chanting young people.
In Liverpool, two police officers were taken to hospital with suspected facial fractures and another was pushed off a motorbike and attacked, Merseyside Police, which governs the northwestern city, said. The unrest involved about 750 protesters and an equal number of hostile protesters.
Police added that at least two shops in Liverpool were vandalised and looted.
Similar scenes unfolded in the southwestern city of Bristol, although anti-racism protesters outnumbered anti-immigration groups, with television footage showing them facing off with riot police.
In Belfast, several businesses reported property damage and at least one business had a fire, according to police.
“I don’t understand why they attacked us,” said Rahmi Akyol, standing outside the shattered glass door of his cafe in Belfast, which he said was attacked by dozens of people armed with bottles and chairs.
“I’ve lived here for 35 years. My kids, my wife are from here. I don’t know what to say, it’s horrible,” he said.
Police across the UK have arrested dozens of people on suspicion of violent disorder, burglary and criminal damage.
Cities have deployed extra police forces following an attack on a mosque in Southport on Tuesday and mosques across the country have been advised to step up security.
‘Unforgivable violence’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first major test since being elected a month ago, blamed the “far right” for the wave of violence and backed forceful police action. His office said he discussed the unrest with senior ministers on Saturday.
The last time Britain rioted was in 2011, when a much larger outbreak of violence took place, with thousands taking to the streets for five nights after London police shot a black man.
Hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters in Sunderland threw stones at police in riot gear near a mosque on Friday night before overturning vehicles, setting a car on fire and setting fire near a police station.
“This was not a protest. This was inexcusable violence and disorder,” Sunderland police chief Mark Hall told reporters on Saturday.
A number of further protests are planned for Sunday.
Read more by Euractiv
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