LONDON — Police are bracing for more violence on Saturday after another night of unrest by far-right protesters that saw three officers hospitalized following a tense standoff outside a mosque in northeast England.
In the city of Sunderland, protesters on Friday night threw beer kegs, fire extinguishers and rocks at police officers near the Muslim place of worship. A car was set on fire and a police station was attacked. Protests over the past few days and nights apparently erupted after a 17-year-old was arrested Monday Stabbing attack in a dance class which left three girls dead and several injured.
false rumors Information spread online about the identity of the young man, who was Muslim and an immigrant, fueled anger among far-right supporters. Suspects under 18 are not usually identified in the UK, but Judge Andrew Menary ordered that Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan parents, be identified, in part to stop the spread of misinformation.
“Anyone involved in the disorder we have seen can expect to be dealt with firmly and that action has already begun,” Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron said. “Eight people have so far been arrested for various crimes, including violent disorder and robbery.”
Barron said three officers were taken to the hospital and one was released.
Britain’s new Labor home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said on social media platform full government support to “take the strongest possible measures.” ”
More than 20 protests are expected over the weekend, including in Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester. Police said many are being organized online by shadowy far-right groups, who are mobilizing support with phrases such as “enough is enough,” “save our children” and “stop the boats.” Counter protests are also planned with the organization Stand Up To Racism demonstrating against Islamophobia and the extreme right.
Police deployed more officers over the weekend, made more prison cells available and will deploy surveillance and facial recognition technology.
Far-right protesters have staged several violent protests since the attack, clashing with police on Tuesday outside a mosque in Southport – near the scene of the horrific stabbing – and throwing beer cans, bottles and flares near the prime minister’s office in London the next day.
He attack on children on monday in a Taylor Swift-themed summer dance class shocked a country where knife crime is a long-standing and vexing problem, although mass stabbings are rare.
Rudakubana has been charged with murder for the attack that killed Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. He has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder of the eight children and two adults who were injured.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has blamed the violence on “far-right hate” and promised to end the chaos. He said police across the UK would be given more resources to stop “a breakdown of law and order on our streets”.
At a news conference on Thursday, the prime minister said the street violence was “clearly driven by far-right hate” and announced a program that will allow police to better share intelligence between agencies and act quickly to make arrests.
“This is coordinated; “This is deliberate,” Starmer said. “This is not a protest that has gotten out of control. “It is a group of individuals absolutely committed to violence.”
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