Southport stabbing incident leads to violent protests across UK; over 140 held, PM Starmer condemns ‘far-right thuggery’

Three girls were killed in a knife attack during a dance class last week due to which protests have erupted as misinformation was spread that the accused was an immigrant and a radical Islamist.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: August 4, 2024 11:14 PM IST

3 min read

A car burns on Parliament Road during an anti-immigration protest in Middlesbrough, England, Sunday Aug. 4, 2024. (AP)

Following a stabbing incident in Southport in northwest England last week, the anti-immigration protests have flared up and protesters have broken hotel windows and set bins ablaze in Northern England on Sunday.

This is the latest wave of unrest being witnessed by the newly formed Labour Party and Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the protests as “far-right thuggery”.

Three girls were killed in a knife attack during a dance class last week due to which protests have erupted as misinformation was spread that the accused was an immigrant and a radical Islamist, Reuters reported.

A protester uses a fire extinguisher on police officers as trouble flares during an anti-immigration protest outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, Sunday Aug. 4, 2024. (AP)

But the police have clarified that the suspect was born in Britain and media reports suggested that his family is Christian.

Also Read | Violence erupts across UK: Far-right and anti-racism protesters clash after Southport stabbing incident

PM Starmer criticised the protest as “organised” and reiterated that his government will not make any distinction adding that “crime is crime, and this government will tackle it”.

The National Police chief’s council BJ Harrington has said that 147 arrests have been made since Saturday and that the number is expected to rise.

In an official statement, Harrington said, “Disinformation is a huge driver of this appalling violence and we know a lot of those attending these so-called protests are doing so in direct response to what they’ve read online.”

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Also Read | Violent protests rock UK in wake of Southport stabbing attack

The UK has seen violent protests in Liverpool, Bristol and Manchester where shops and businesses were vanadalised, injuring several police personnel.

According to a BBC report, crowds were seen gathering in Rotherham, Bolton, Hull, Southport, while cars were set on fire and windows were smashed in Middlesbrough.

Former PM Rishi Sunak condemned the “criminal behaviour” of the crowd and said that the violence has “nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport.”

In a post on X, Sunak said “This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society. The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full weight of the law.”

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