New day of violence between police and far-right protesters in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom experienced another day of violence on Saturday with clashes breaking out eacute; in several cities during anti-immigration and anti-Muslim demonstrations, violence that has “no excuse”, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned.

The gatherings and clashes began after the stabbing murder of three girls in Southport, northwest England, on Monday.

Shortly after, rumours began to circulate, relayed by hard-right figures, about the religion and identity of the alleged attacker, Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old boy.

Since then, and despite the Labour government's firm stance against what it called “far-right hatred”, the United Kingdom is on its third day of violence, after those that shook Southport on Tuesday, London and other cities on Wednesday, and Sunderland (north-east England) on Friday.

On Saturday, the often tense situation, with counter-demonstrations in some places organised at the call of anti-racist movements, degenerated in several cities into clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Keir Starmer, who has been in power for just over a month, held an emergency telephone meeting with his top ministers and said there could be “no excuse for violence,” according to a Downing Street spokesman.

He also reiterated his support for the police to take “all necessary action to keep the streets safe.”

– “serious disorder” –

In Liverpool, a working-class city in the northwest of England, protesters threw chairs, bricks and other projectiles at police, an AFP photographer noted.

“Several police officers were injured while dealing with serious disorder in Liverpool city centre,” said on X Merseyside Police.

In Manchester, scuffles broke out between protesters and police, who were trying to avoid clashes with counter-protesters, according to the BBC.

In Nottingham and Belfast, police also had to intervene between anti-migrant and anti-Muslim groups and anti-racist counter-protesters.

In Hull, in the north-east, protesters smashed the windows of a hotel used to house asylum seekers, according to the BBC. Three police officers were injured and four protesters arrested, Humberside police said.

In London, a regularly scheduled pro-Palestinian march in the city centre went ahead as planned, under heavy police surveillance but peacefully.

“Some of the suspects and those responsible (for the violence) have already been arrested, are facing charges and are in custody, and this is just the beginning (…) People have a right to feel safe,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told British media on Saturday.

Concern is particularly high among Muslim religious leaders, as a mosque was targeted in Sunderland on Friday, as it was in Southport during earlier clashes on Tuesday.

– “unforgivable” –

Anti-immigration protest in Liverpool, England, on August 3, 2024 © AFP – Peter POWELL

Police across the country have been on alert since riots rocked Sunderland on Friday night.

Clashes took place outside a mosque between police and rioters, many of whom were carrying British flags and chanting Islamophobic slogans.

Police have reported “serious levels of violence”. Three officers have been hospitalised, while ten people have been arrested so far.

Other clashes took place in several cities on Wednesday, including London, where police arrested more than a hundred people, Hartlepool (north) and Manchester.

The authorities and many politicians have strongly condemned the violence, including the mayor of the north-east Kim McGuinness, who accused “far-right groups”.

Former Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly called on the government to “do more” to restore public order and “send a clear message to the thugs”.

For the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain Zara Mohammed, these tensions are the result of “anti-migrant and Islamophobic sentiment that is spreading widely”, including among the working class politics, she told AFP on Friday.

During the last general election in July, while the fight against illegal immigration was at the heart of the campaign, the anti-immigration party Reform UK made a surprise breakthrough, sending 5 MPs to Parliament.

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