Far-right riots erupt in Sunderland amid anti-immigrant protests in the UK | Far-right news

Police say officers faced “serious and sustained levels of violence” after several hundred people attacked Sunderland city center.

Violent far-right riots have broken out in the northeastern English city of Sunderland amid a series of anti-immigrant protests following the murder of three children at a dance class earlier this week.

Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron said officers on Friday faced “severe and sustained levels of violence” after several hundred people attacked Sunderland city center, attacking police and setting fires at least a car and a building next to a police station.

Eight people were arrested after hours of what Barron described as “utterly deplorable” riots. Three officers required hospital treatment and two remained in hospital on Saturday morning.

Images shared on social media showed youths dressed in balaclavas throwing bricks as fireworks and rockets were fired.

“The shocking scenes we witnessed tonight in Sunderland are completely unacceptable,” Barron said, adding that the “disorder, violence and damage” seen “will not be tolerated”.

“A full investigation is underway to identify anyone else responsible,” he added.

The disorder arose after two nights of unrest in several English towns and cities, following the stabbing in Southport of the three children – Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Bebe King, six – in a Taylor Swift-inspired summer holiday dance class.

Online misinformation attributed the deaths to a Muslim immigrant. The alleged perpetrator was later identified by a judge as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a UK-born Christian to Rwandan parents.

Police said the case is not being treated as terrorism-related, but did not reveal a motive.

Anger over the murder fueled growing anti-immigrant sentiment, as far-right social media channels announced “enough is enough” anti-immigrant demonstrations.

Protesters clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday and threw beer cans, bottles and firecrackers near the Prime Minister’s office in London the following day.

Officers arrested 111 people when a rally in Westminster turned violent on Wednesday night.

Friday night’s riots in Sunderland, following a calm night across the country on Thursday, were an ominous sign for the days ahead.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it had a “proportionate and risk-based” plan for rival pro-Palestinian and anti-immigration protests on Saturday.

‘They don’t represent Britain’

Responding to events in Sunderland, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said protesters “will pay the price for their violence and thuggery”.

“They do not represent Britain,” Cooper said, giving police “the government’s full support to take the strongest possible action and ensure they face the full force of the law.”

Religious leaders say mosques were attacked and had to reinforce security measures.

“Violent protesters attacked a mosque and police, causing chaos and fear,” the Muslim Council of Britain said on X, welcoming Home Secretary Cooper’s conviction.

“It is imperative that this violent behavior is addressed and prevented from recurring.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met local leaders in Southport on Friday to discuss “a package of support for the local community”, his Downing Street office said, a day after he announced a new “national capability”. to combat disorder following the recent disruptions.

The new measures will allow for information sharing, a wider deployment of facial recognition technology and criminal behavior orders to restrict the travel of rioters.

Downing Street lit up in pink on Friday night “as a sign of respect and solidarity with all those affected by the tragic incidents that occurred earlier this week”, he said on X.

“We stand in solidarity with Southport.”