More than 100 far-right demonstrations and 30 counter-demonstrations are planned for Wednesday evening, British media reported, citing police sources. More than 6,000 police officers have been mobilised across the country. Three people have already been convicted of participating in the riots, which began after the murder of three girls in Southport.
Of the 43 police districts in England and Wales 41 expects protests in their area. More than 6,000 police officers from anti-riot units have been mobilised across the country to prevent riots. The Metropolitan Police has sent reinforcements to the north of England – where most of the protests are planned – in a reversal of the normal trend, as it usually uses police from other areas.
Three people sentenced
On Wednesday, the first three people involved in the riots were sentenced. Derek Drummond, 58, from Liverpool, who punched a police officer in the face during a demonstration in the city, was sentenced to three years in prison, Declan Geiran, 29, who set fire to a police car during the same riot, was sentenced to 2.5 years, and Liam Riley, 41, was sentenced to 20 months for violent disorder and racially aggravated public order. So far, 428 people have been arrested in the riots since July 30, with 120 charged.
The wave of racial and anti-immigrant riots, the likes of which have not been seen in the UK since 2011, was sparked by an incident in Southport, near Liverpool. On 29 July, Axel Rudakubana, then 17 (now 18), of Rwandan descent, attacked children taking part in a dance and yoga class. He injured 13 people in total – two adults and 11 children. Three teenage girls died.
Victims of Southport knife attackMerseyside Police
A wave of riots
Since last Tuesday, protests, mostly attended by far-right supporters, have been taking place in different cities every day and have often degenerated into riots.
United Kingdom. Riots in Sunderland on August 2nd. Police car set on fireDrik/Getty Images
Social media is contributing to the spread of protests, which are also suspected to be used by foreign entities interested in sowing unrest in the UK. Bloomberg drew attention to this on Wednesday, writing that TikTok and the Telegram messenger are among the sites being used for this purpose, through which encouragements to take part in demonstrations outside asylum centres and false accusations about Muslim communities are being sent.
Bloomberg writes that, according to people familiar with the matter, British authorities suspect that foreign state-backed entities are using bots and accounts on the X platform with stolen British identities to amplify anti-immigration sentiment.
Main image source: Drik/Getty Images