Recent riots have erupted across the U.K. following false online rumors that an asylum seeker was responsible for a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, which resulted in the deaths of three girls and injuries to others.
The suspect, identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Although British law typically protects the identities of suspects under 18, the judge decided to release Rudakubana’s name to counter the spread of misinformation. He faces charges of three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
Read more: Two Children Died And Eleven Were Injured In a UK Dance Class Attack
In the aftermath of the stabbing, rioters have set fire to a library, attacked a mosque, and thrown flares at a statue of Winston Churchill. These actions are driven by wider anxieties about immigration levels in the U.K.
Hundreds of arrests have been made in connection with the recent unrest, and more are expected as police review CCTV, social media, and body-worn camera footage. However, authorities have cautioned that with extensive security measures in place and thousands of officers deployed, other crimes may not receive full attention.
On Sunday, violence was particularly intense in Rotherham, a town in northern England, where police faced significant challenges in preventing rioters from storming a Holiday Inn Express being used to house asylum seekers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised in the afternoon to take all necessary actions to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. He condemned the disorder, stating that it was not a legitimate protest but organized, violent thuggery with no place in society or online.
Starmer also criticized those targeting individuals based on race or religion, labeling such actions as “far-right.” He emphasized that the country’s residents have the right to safety and denounced the attacks on Muslim communities, mosques, other minority groups, and the police, characterizing the violence and racist rhetoric as “far-right thuggery.”
Before the situation was brought under control, police officers equipped with shields were pelted with various objects, including pieces of wood, chairs, and fire extinguishers. A large bin near a hotel window was also set on fire, though the blaze was quickly extinguished.
South Yorkshire police, responsible for Rotherham, reported that at least ten officers were injured in the clashes, including one who was left unconscious.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield condemned the violence, describing the behavior as “disgusting.” She noted that while only a minority of attendees engaged in the violence and destruction, those who merely observed were still considered complicit. Butterfield assured that officers are diligently reviewing extensive online footage and imagery of those involved, and those identified should expect a visit from the police soon.
Tensions were also high on Sunday in Middlesbrough, a northeastern town where some protesters managed to break through a police cordon. One group moved through residential areas, vandalizing windows of houses and cars.
Elsewhere in town, hundreds clashed with police at the cenotaph, hurling bricks, cans, and pots at officers.
Many of the protests over the past week were organized online by groups using slogans like “enough is enough,” “save our kids,” and “stop the boats.”
These rallying cries have been promoted by various social media accounts, with Tommy Robinson, leader of the English Defense League (EDL), playing a significant role in amplifying them. Merseyside police have connected the EDL to the violent protest in Southport on Tuesday, which was near the site of the stabbing incident.
