UK clashes: Evening of violence in Sunderland

Riots broke out late Friday in Sunderland, where British police officers were subjected to “serious violence” according to police, the latest clashes after the murder of three young girls earlier this week.

Images posted on social media show hundreds of people rampaging through the city centre of Sunderland, in the north-east of England, attacking police and setting fire to at least one car.

These events revive concerns of a return to the violence that has marred the country during the week, while Thursday evening had been calm.

“Our officers continue to deal with ongoing clashes and have been subjected to serious violence,” Northumbria Police said. “The scenes we are seeing are completely unacceptable,” it added.

The region's mayor, Kim McGuinness, said she was “appalled”. “If your response to tragedy is to use it to commit violence, to harm others, to attack police and damage property, you represent nothing but vandalism,” she said on X, echoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks on Thursday.

The new outbreak of violence comes as police prepare for a tense weekend.

In London in particular, the Metropolitan Police said it had “increased” its numbers “to reassure” the public, as a pro-Palestinian march and an anti-immigration rally are planned in the capital.

Police officers arrest a protester during the demonstration outside the entrance of 10 Downing Street in central London on July 31, 2024, following the stabbings in Southport on July 29. © AFP – BENJAMIN CREMEL

Merseyside Police, including around 50 officers who were injured in clashes on Tuesday in Southport, the town in north-west England that was devastated by a knife attack the previous day, also said they were prepared to deal with possible further clashes, and deployed more officers to Liverpool city centre.

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Two to three hundred people — supporters of the far-right anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL) movement according to police — took part in clashes on Tuesday, amid rumours and speculation shared online about the religion, identity or origin of the perpetrator of the attacks.

A 17-year-old suspect, Axel Rudakubana, has been charged with murder and attempted murder and remanded in custody. detention.

“I want to reassure residents that we are fully prepared for any potential disorder,” Assistant Commissioner Jenny Smith said in a statement, issued following “speculation” about upcoming protests.

“A significant number of police officers are in place to act quickly to deal with anyone who intends to cause disorder in the coming days,” she added.

Police forces are anticipating protests in several cities, including Nottingham in central England, Rotherham in the north, Cardiff in Wales, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The clashes in Southport, where a mosque was targeted, have led officials at Muslim places of worship to step up security.

– Slogans anti-immigration –

In the capital, the Metropolitan Police met with Muslim community leaders and visited several mosques “to provide (security) advice and listen to concerns,” it said in a statement.

A pro-Palestinian march is planned, as well as a rally near the march route of the movement called “Enough is enough”, an anti-immigration slogan that has emerged on social media.

“The Met will not tolerate individuals who use the right to protest as a means of committing acts of violence or inciting racial or religious hatred against the public or the police,” it warned.

On Wednesday, several hundred people, waving British flags and shouting slogans anti-immigration protesters, had demonstrated in a tense atmosphere in front of Donwing Street, leading to 111 arrests.

“The Muslim community is deeply concerned” after the events in Southport, particularly with “these rallies planned all over the United Kingdom and specifically targeting mosques,” Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, told AFP. She also described mosque leaders as “anxious” at a meeting organized on Thursday on the security of places of worship.

On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer showed his firmness and support for the police after the increase in rallies marred by violence, “clearly” fueled by “far-right hatred.”

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