Rioting and unrest continued Monday across the United Kingdom, with numerous towns and cities grappling with ongoing violence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the riots as “far-right thuggery.”
Countries including Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Kenya have issued warnings to their citizens in or traveling to the UK. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted an “increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK,” particularly warning that Muslim immigrants or persons of color could be targeted. On Monday evening, police in Plymouth monitored two rival protests, while other forces across the country remained on high alert.
The riots began after a mass stabbing incident last Tuesday in Southport, where three young girls were killed. A 17-year-old was charged with the murders at Liverpool Magistrates Court, along with 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. Following the attack, misinformation spread online about the perpetrator, leading violent protesters to gather in Southport, where they attacked a local mosque, threw bricks, and set fires. Merseyside Police reported that over 50 officers were injured in the riots and instituted a Section 60 order. This order, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, allows police to search individuals without reasonable grounds in a specific area for a set period, activated by a senior officer if there is a potential for serious violence. Additional Section 60 orders were introduced yesterday in Liverpool and Southport.
The unrest spread to other towns and cities, including London and Manchester. In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, police responded to rioters attempting to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers. Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield described a particularly alarming incident where a wheelie bin was set on fire and pushed against the hotel, endangering the residents and staff inside.
Similar scenes unfolded in Staffordshire and Middlesbrough, with rioters setting fires, smashing windows, and attacking officers. The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that 378 people have been arrested nationwide in connection with the riots.
UK for UNHCR expressed shock at the violence and targeted attacks against asylum seekers, emphasizing that the spread of disinformation and hatred has serious real-life consequences. The Prime Minister warned that individuals inciting violence online would “regret taking part in this disorder.” Number 10 Downing Street also condemned remarks by X owner Elon Musk, who claimed that “civil war is inevitable” in the UK.