British Muslims, activists and civil rights teams have decried riots in Southport and hate speech within the aftermath of a deadly stabbing assault, as they spoke of a way of concern and rising Islamophobia.
The northern English seaside city, which was struck by grief after a suspect stabbed kids and adults on Monday at a Taylor Swift-themed vacation dance membership, was plunged into chaos on Tuesday night when rioters attacked a local mosque, chanted “F*** Muslims”, and assaulted police.
Greater than 50 officers have been injured in the course of the riots which erupted after a peaceable vigil. Tensions heated up as on-line misinformation and hypothesis unfold over the knife assault suspect. Unverified claims have instructed he’s a Muslim and a migrant.
Police have mentioned the suspect is a 17-year-old who was born within the Welsh capital, Cardiff. He lived in a village close to Southport. No additional particulars about him have been introduced since suspects can’t be named earlier than they’re charged. Moreover, suspects below 18 have automated anonymity.
Merseyside Police have mentioned the tragedy, throughout which Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar have been killed, just isn’t being handled as a terrorism-related incident.
However figures such because the far-right agitator Tommy Robinson have stirred tensions, railing in opposition to Muslims and undocumented migrants after the assault whereas suggesting the federal government, police and media are conspiring to cover info from the general public.
In a seven-minute video posted on Tuesday to his X account with the caption, “There’s extra proof to counsel Islam is a psychological well being challenge reasonably than a faith of peace”, Robinson tells his 800,000 followers, “They’re changing the British nation with hostile, violent, aggressive migrants … Your kids don’t matter to [the Labour government].”
Nigel Farage, the hard-right populist MP, shared a video on X on Tuesday during which he requested, “Was this man (the suspect) being monitored by the safety providers? Some experiences say he was. Others, much less positive. Police say it’s a non-terror incident … I simply ponder whether the reality is being withheld from us.”
A slew of different accounts on social media websites blamed Muslims for Monday’s assault, which has shocked the UK and led to an outpouring of grief and sympathy for the households of the victims. 5 of the eight different kids who suffered stab wounds – and two adults – are in a important situation.
Merseyside Police mentioned among the rioters “have been believed to be supporters of the English Defence League” – the far-right motion based by Robinson.
The Liverpool Area Mosque Community mentioned in an announcement that it was “shocked and horrified” by the knife assault in opposition to kids and adults on the dance college.
“A minority of persons are making an attempt to painting that this inhumane act is in some way associated to the Muslim neighborhood. Frankly, it’s not, and we should not let those that search to divide us unfold hatred and use this as a chance,” it mentioned.
“I felt terrified for Muslims in Southport,” mentioned Fatima Rajina, a analysis fellow based mostly on the Stephen Lawrence Analysis Centre who specialises in points together with id, race and British Muslims. “Nobody can ever inform Muslims that our fears are only a figment of our creativeness. Islamophobia has all the time been facilitated by politicians’ dog-whistle politics who’re by no means held accountable.”
A submit on X that has been shared greater than 4,000 occasions, referenced one other current riot that some on-line agitators mistakenly blamed on Muslims.
“Earlier than you ridicule any British Muslim for saying they now not really feel secure dwelling within the nation of their beginning, simply keep in mind that previously two weeks, we’ve got been blamed for the Leeds riots and the Southport stabbings, neither of which had something to do with us,” it mentioned.
Within the northern metropolis of Leeds, individuals lately rioted after native authorities intervened in a toddler safety case.
The Runnymede Belief race equality suppose tank mentioned of the Southport riots: “That is the inevitable, devastating, final result of rising Islamophobia that’s enabled to fester on social media, in mainstream media, and by our political class. Our ideas are with the individuals of Southport, and British Muslims throughout the nation.”
The top of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed, mentioned: “At a time of nice tragedy, loss, and mourning, we should stand agency in opposition to the cynical forces of hatred and division. This doesn’t symbolize our numerous Britain and the individuals of Southport. The federal government should deal with the growing rise of violent far-right extremism focusing on Muslim communities. Extra have to be finished to sort out Islamophobia.”
The Mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotheram, mentioned the riots “solely additional traumatise a neighborhood that’s already struggling to return to phrases with this assault. Senseless violence directed on the very individuals who ran in direction of the hazard yesterday, and outright Islamophobia, solely distract from the work of delivering justice.”
Jenni Stancombe, the mom of the seven-year-old sufferer Elsie Dot Stancombe, referred to as for calm.
“That is the one factor that I’ll write, however please cease the violence in Southport tonight,” she posted on social media.
