Several cities in the United Kingdom are undergoing violent unrest and disorder, with police coming under attack in Belfast and Plymouth. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that six people were arrested in Plymouth and several officers suffered minor injuries following the violence. Meanwhile, in South Belfast, riot officers had stones and petrol bombs thrown at them. A supermarket was also set on fire over the weekend. The unrest was sparked by false rumors that a suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker. Almost 400 people have been arrested since the riots began.
A vigil for the victims of a mass stabbing in Southport was held earlier. Hundreds of people attended the peaceful memorial. Children blew bubbles and others left flowers and heart-shaped balloons to remember the victims at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club. Axel Muganwa Rudakubana has been charged with three counts of murder, ten attempted murders, and possession of a curved kitchen knife. Rudakubana was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff and moved to the Southport area in 2013.
The riots and unrest in several towns and cities throughout the UK were allegedly fueled by the false rumors surrounding the suspect in the mass stabbing case. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer referred to the riots as “far-right thuggery” and vowed to “ramp up” the law to deal with the violence. However, despite the Prime Minister’s statement, violence spread to Plymouth. Devon and Cornwall Police revealed that specialist officers had been sent to the Guildhall area to deal with a far-right demonstration and a counter-protest. The force stated that several officers were injured and a police van was damaged.
Police are working “around the clock” to identify and arrest more people. Almost 400 arrests have already been made since the start of the riots. Those who have been charged in connection with riots in England appeared in various Magistrates Courts. The Law Society has also demanded much-needed support and resources for courts handling violent offenders.
After chairing an emergency Cobra meeting of ministers and senior police chiefs, Sir Keir stated the need for a “standing army” of specialist officers to tackle the unrest. A Downing Street spokesperson later confirmed that there were no plans for the military to be involved and that the government was working with social media companies to ensure misinformation and disinformation are removed. Neil Basu, former head of counter-terrorism at the Metropolitan Police, believes that some acts have “crossed the line into terrorism.” Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled to Stormont early following violent protests in Belfast last weekend
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