UK faces surge in far-right riots and counter-protests

LONDON: A large number of counter-protesters took to the streets in several cities to denounce racism and safeguard vulnerable locations like refugee centres and legal offices on Wednesday, following days of anti-Muslim riots in the United Kingdom (UK).

The UK is experiencing unprecedented civil unrest driven by far-right extremists. The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and law enforcement have been struggling to restore order amid the worst violence seen in over a decade.

Read more: Protests turn violent in Sunderland as UK unrest spreads

The unrest was triggered by anti-immigrant sentiment and so far led to widespread rioting across England and Northern Ireland.

In Brentford, demonstrators chanted “This is what community looks like,” while other cities saw counter-protests overshadowing far-right groups.

The Labour Party-led government adopted a tough stance, intensifying police operations, increasing arrests, and implementing stricter legal measures. The British PM’s administration introduced strict sentences for those involved in violence, with clear warnings that both physical and online incitements to disorder will be met with strict penalties.

Despite the broad police powers to handle violence and disorder, including arrests for assaults, arson, and online provocations, managing the crisis has proven challenging. The police are grappling with limited resources due to years of funding cuts, and public opinion is strongly opposed to the ongoing violence, with a survey indicating 85 per cent of Britons disapprove of the riots.

The violence began following a stabbing attack on July 29 in Southport, which was falsely linked to asylum seekers by far-right activists. The actual suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana from Wales, was misidentified as an immigrant, further inflaming anti-immigrant sentiments.

Riots targeted public and private properties, including asylum centers, with clashes between rioters and police becoming frequent. Starmer called for stricte4r enforcement measures, leveraging surveillance and AI technology to support law enforcement.

To date, nearly 428 arrests have been made, with 120 people charged. The British government is also increasing prison capacity to accommodate those convicted of rioting.

Read more: Violent crowd clashes with UK police after young girls killed

Antisemitic incidents in the UK also reached record levels. Although counter-protests provided some temporary respite, authorities continue their efforts to address the underlying issues driving the unrest.