Police forces have been called to step up patrols outside mosques and accommodation for asylum seekers amid plans for at least 19 far-right rallies across England in the coming days, the Guardian reports.
Violent demonstrations have spread from Southport to London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot following the atrocity at a children’s holiday club on Monday when a knife-wielding attacker entered a dance and yoga class attended by around 25 children aged six to 11 years and killed three and wounded five.
The attacker was soon arrested, and the police stated that he was a 17-year-old juvenile.
The riots began after misinformation circulated widely online about the identity and motives of the suspect in the Southport murders, who was named on Thursday as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana. The teenager, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, could not be named by the media because he is under 18.
However, Judge Andrew Menary said his name should be released on the grounds that anonymity risked “disinformation continuing to spread”.
Rudakubana is accused of killing Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, and attempting to kill 10 others.
According to the Guardian, mosques in Southport and Hartlepool were attacked on Tuesday and Wednesday following unfounded rumors on the Internet that the suspect was Muslim, although his motives for the attack remain unknown.
In Manchester and Aldershot, protesters attacked housing for asylum seekers carrying placards saying “deport them, don’t support them” and “no housing for illegals”. In central London, protesters threw torches and cans and chanted “save our children” and repeated the previous Conservative government’s mantra: “Stop the boats”.
Mosque Security, a company that advises religious leaders on protecting religious institutions, said it had received inquiries from more than 100 mosques seeking help in recent days.
The Guardian reports that journalists have learned of at least 19 far-right rallies planned for the next few days in cities across England. Many of the events are taking place under the banner of “enough is enough” and “protect our children” – the same slogans used by protesters outside government buildings on Wednesday night. Then more than 110 people were arrested after protesters clashed with the police.
Counter-demonstrations were also announced
Counter-demonstrations have been announced in Manchester and Liverpool amid fears that anti-immigrant groups are feeling emboldened by the unrest following the Southport killings.
Tell Mama, an organization that monitors Islamophobia, said its membership had “absolutely increased in the past few days” and called for more police protection for mosques.
“We absolutely must see that the police organize and intensify their patrols around mosques and accommodation for asylum seekers. It would be good to see the neighborhood teams change their patrol times to provide additional security to the communities,” said the organization’s director, Iman Atta.
“Last week showed how the far right can organize on the Internet and promote hatred and misinformation against Muslim communities, refugees and asylum seekers. We call on the communities to stay calm, look out for each other and stay alert,” she added.
Nahella Ashraf, from Stand Up to Racism Manchester, said it would be “great” if the police monitored far-right activities more intensively, but that it would not solve the long-term problems behind the riots.
”Before the election, with all the attacks on asylum seekers, it’s not surprising to see this being unleashed now. We’ve had years where people felt angry and neglected, and the cost of living crisis is playing into that. This is the climate set by the politicians,” she said, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
