UK police brace for more protests amid violent disorder over stabbings

LONDON: Police forces across the UK on Saturday are braced for around 30 planned protests over the weekend as violent disorder involving far-right groups in the wake of the fatal stabbings of three schoolgirls in north-west England spread to the north-east of the country. Online disinformation erroneously alleging the teenage suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker led to a mosque being targeted by mobs in Sunderland this time and a building adjacent to a police station being set on fire amid clashes on Friday night.

Northumbria Police made eight arrests for a range of offences, including violent disorder and burglary and said that three of its officers were hospitalised with injuries.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that the disorder, violence and damage which has occurred will not be tolerated," said Chief Superintendent Helena Barron of Northumbria Police.

"The safety of the public is our utmost priority and when we became aware that a protest had been planned, we ensured there was an increased policing presence in the city. During the course of the evening, those officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence, which is utterly deplorable," she said.

Former home secretary Priti Patel, who is contesting the leadership race of the Opposition Conservative Party, issued a statement calling for Parliament to be recalled from its summer recess amid the ongoing disorder and riots.

"Violence and thuggery is always unacceptable. There is no qualification or exception. And politicians on all sides must be willing to stand up and say so," said Patel.

"Now is a moment for national reflection and solidarity - to pull back from the wave of violence we have seen, to call it out for what it is - without fear or favour - and for parliament to speak with one voice in condemnation. We either believe in the rule of law, or we do not. That is why Parliament must be recalled immediately," she said.

Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced a new National Violent Disorder Programme designed to stop criminals intent on causing violence and unrest by bringing together policing capabilities from across the UK to share intelligence on the activity of mobs for officials to make swift arrests.

He also called on large social media companies to take firm action because "violent disorder clearly whipped up online is also a crime."

"It's not protest. It's not legitimate. It's crime and violent disorder. An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice," he said.

Yvette Cooper, Britain's new Labour Home Secretary, posted on X on Saturday that criminals attacking the police and stoking disorder will "pay the price" for their violence and thuggery and that the police have the full backing of the government to "take the strongest possible action."

Meanwhile, several social media posts relating to far-right protests and counter-protests have been circulating, with police forces gearing up for further unrest.

We will have surge capacity in our intelligence, in our briefing, and in the resources that are out in local communities," Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, told the BBC.

Lewis Atkinson, the local MP for Sunderland Central, said a link could be drawn between the disorder and the English Defence League (EDL), which was founded by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Some of the protesters were draped in England flags and chants in support of Robinson could be heard during the clashes on Friday night.

It follows a brutal knife attack on a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance workshop at a community centre in Southport on Monday, which left three young girls dead and others fighting for their lives.

The attack was followed by a wave of online misinformation about the suspected attacker's religious background, who has since been named as Welsh-born Axel Muganwa Rudakubana of Rwandan heritage and remains in custody.