In a surprising turn of events, rioting yobs failed to show up for their own planned protests across London this evening. Instead, counter-protesters filled the streets, showing their support for immigrants and refugees with signs reading “More Love Less Hate,” “We Stand Together as a Community,” and “North Kensington Stand Up to Racism.
Far-right groups had been expected to protest in areas including Walthamstow, North Finchley, Hounslow, and Harrow. However, these locations were deserted except for the presence of police officers and counter-protesters. The absence of the far-right protesters comes after a leaked list from a racist Telegram group detailed plans to congregate at various immigration centres.
The anticipation of unrest prompted numerous precautionary measures. Office workers were advised to leave work early, businesses closed early and boarded up their premises, and a nursery in Walthamstow urged parents to collect their children early to avoid potential violence. Residents of an apartment block in Croydon were also advised to avoid the town centre, while nearby Slough experienced “scenes of anarchy” that left many feeling unsafe.
Recent violent scenes in cities such as London, Southport, Liverpool, Hull, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, and Sunderland have seen individuals, some wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons, engaging in Islamophobic slurs, attacking people of non-white heritage, vandalizing homes with racist graffiti, targeting mosques, attacking police, and looting.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan addressed the situation ahead of this evening’s events: “The disorder, racism, and violence that we have seen in towns and cities across the country in the last week have been truly shocking. I’m aware of reports that far-right groups are now planning to target locations in London, and I want to be very clear to anyone thinking of spreading hatred and fear in our city: if you break the law, action will be taken against you. Acts of violence and disorder on the streets of London will not be tolerated, and if you commit a crime, you will be arrested and face the full force of the law.
In response to the recent violence, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled plans for a new ‘national capability’ across police forces to tackle violent disorder. Courts will be sitting through the night to process those arrested.
The riots began in Southport following the spread of disinformation that the boy arrested for the Merseyside deaths was a refugee. Rioters falsely claimed that the boy, who is Muslim and allegedly arrived in the UK illegally in a dinghy, was responsible for the murders. Police have since confirmed that the 17-year-old, Axel Rudakubana, was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents. Rwanda is a Christian nation.
