Violent disorder on Saturday erupted across several British cities, injuring police officers and damaging property in the most widespread rioting the UK has seen in 13 years. This unrest followed the murder of three young girls in northwest England.
The riots, involving hundreds of anti-immigration protesters, broke out in towns and cities after false information spread rapidly on social media claimed that the suspect in Monday’s knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport was a radical Muslim migrant. Police have clarified that the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, 17, was born in Britain. Despite this, protests by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim demonstrators have continued, leading to violence, arson, and looting.
The violence unfolded in Liverpool, Bristol, Hull, and Belfast—cities located in different parts of the UK—with clashes between anti-immigration protesters and anti-racism groups. Many police officers were injured while trying to separate the rival protesters, who were largely young men chanting slogans. In Liverpool, two officers were hospitalized with suspected facial fractures, and another was assaulted after being pushed off his motorbike during the unrest involving around 750 protesters on each side, according to Merseyside Police.
Who is behind the unrest?
Several far-right groups have either participated in or promoted the riots on social media. David Miles, a prominent member of the far-right group Patriotic Alternative, posted photographs of himself in Southport, according to Hope Not Hate, an organization that monitors extremist groups. Other far-right agitators, including the neo-Nazi group British Movement, also spread information about the protests online. Images from the protests, examined by Hope Not Hate, showed some participants with Nazi tattoos.
Following the disturbances in Southport, police reported that supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) were involved. The riots have also attracted individuals linked to soccer violence, which has historically intersected with nationalist movements in Britain.
What is the English Defense League?
Founded in 2009, the English Defense League was a far-right street movement known for violent protests and an anti-Islam, anti-immigration stance. Originating in Luton, England, the group emerged after tensions rose following a handful of Islamic extremists chanting abuse at British soldiers returning from Iraq. Luton had already been associated with Islamist extremism due to a small number of adherents to the extremist group Al Muhajiroun, implicated in the 2005 London bombings.
