Over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, violent protests erupted in various cities and towns across the UK. These gatherings, initially organized as anti-immigration marches on social media platforms like X, WhatsApp, and Telegram, quickly escalated into chaotic and violent confrontations with the police.
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The turmoil resulted in the torching of two Holiday Inn hotels in Rotherham, Northern England, and Tamworth, in the Midlands, which were reportedly housing asylum seekers. The South Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable, Lindsey Butterfield, stated that the Rotherham hotel was “full of terrified residents and staff” at the time of the attack.
These protests were ignited by the tragic stabbing incident in Southport, Northwest England, earlier in the week, where several children were attacked, resulting in the death of three young girls. The far-right capitalized on this tragedy, spreading false claims that the attacker was an immigrant, to incite anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments. Authorities have confirmed that the suspect was born in Britain.
The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric in recent years has been cited as a contributing factor to the violence witnessed over the weekend. Last month’s general election saw the populist right-wing group, Reform UK, secure the third-highest number of votes, with immigration being a central theme of their campaign.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, condemned the riots but also criticized what he described as the “soft” policing of previous anti-racism protests and the impact of mass, uncontrolled migration on community cohesion. In response, former Conservative Home Secretary Priti Patel and other lawmakers emphasized that violence and thuggery are never acceptable, irrespective of political differences.
Diane Abbott, Britain’s first female Black MP, also weighed in, suggesting that the recent events were a direct result of the divisive rhetoric championed by Farage and his party, leaving minority communities in fear. Despite the controversy, a spokesperson for Farage declined to comment further on the matter.
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