2024 United Kingdom Riots

About

The 2024 United Kingdom Riots refer to a series of riots that took place in the United Kingdom in late July and early August. The riots have been characterized as Islamophobic, racially charged, anti-immigration, and far-right, mainly instigated by the English Defence League (EDL) who played significant roles in spreading misinformation online.

Origin

On July 29th, 2024, a knife attack at a children's yoga and dance workshop in Southport resulted in the deaths of three children^[1] and critically injured several others. In the aftermath, false information about the suspect's identity, nationality, and immigration status circulated widely on social media, fueled by high-profile far-right figures.

Claims that the attacker was named "Ali Al-Shakati" were traced back to an anti-lockdown campaigner's account on X (formerly Twitter) and were further spread by websites like Channel 3 Now and personalities like Andrew Tate and ex-boxer Anthony Fowler. A "Southport-themed" Telegram group and far-right groups such as the National Front and British Movement played significant roles in spreading misinformation.

Merseyside Police clarified that the rumored name was not linked to the case, revealing the suspect was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. The disinformation is widely blamed for sparking the riots in England. Experts described the viral falsehoods as deliberately fabricated to incite hostility toward minorities, highlighting the profound impact of online misinformation on real-world events. Accusations of Russian involvement in the misinformation campaign were made by former security minister Stephen McPartland, while others, like Guardian columnist Owen Jones, criticized X for facilitating the spread of unverified claims. The Independent later reported that misinformation continued to motivate protests in the days following the attack.

Development

July 2024

The unrest began on July 30th, 2024, when a crowd, which police suspected included supporters of the English Defence League, gathered outside Southport Mosque. This gathering was fuelled by false rumours online that the suspect in the stabbing was a Muslim immigrant. The protest escalated as participants clashed with police, hurled objects at the mosque, and set a police vehicle on fire. The violence resulted in injuries to over fifty police officers, some seriously, and three police dogs, as well as numerous arrests.

The riots quickly spread to other parts of England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, over the following days. On July 31st, more than 100 protesters were arrested in London, with demonstrations also taking place in Manchester, Hartlepool, and Aldershot.

August 2024

On August 2nd, further riots erupted in Sunderland, where a police station was set ablaze, three officers were injured, and several arrests were made.

The unrest continued on August 3rd, with far-right protesters clashing with police and anti-racist counter-protesters in various locations. In Liverpool, a library was set on fire. The violence reached new heights on August 4th, when anti-immigration demonstrators smashed windows and set the Holiday Inn Express on fire. In Middlesbrough, rioters targeted a residential area, damaging houses and cars.

On August 4th, in Rotherham, anti-immigration demonstrators clashed with anti-racism protesters, with the former outnumbering the latter. Rioting broke out outside a Holiday Inn Express housing asylum seekers, where masked protesters chanted "Get them out" and "Yorkshire" while throwing objects, smashing windows, and setting the building on fire. Violence escalated as protesters attacked police officers, injuring one.

Greater Manchester Police issued a Section 34 dispersal notice in Bolton to separate anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters, leading to clashes with masked demonstrators shouting "Allahu Akbar." In Middlesbrough, rioters vandalized houses and cars, while protests in Hull and Weymouth included a counter-protest.

Further riots occurred outside another Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth, Staffordshire, with objects hurled at the building and police, resulting in smashed windows and a fire

On August 5th, in Birmingham, a Sky News crew was followed by a masked man who stabbed their van's tire after their broadcast was interrupted by protestors shouting "free Palestine" and "fuck the EDL," as a response to a rumored far-right protest near a mosque. Meanwhile, in Plymouth, businesses closed early, bus routes were diverted, and a theatre performance was canceled due to planned protests. Plymouth City Council advised residents to avoid the city center as police increased their presence.

Anti-fascist and far-right protestors clashed, throwing items such as glass and stones, resulting in injuries, including one woman on the anti-fascist side and three police officers. As tensions escalated into the night, bottles, bricks, and fireworks were hurled, leading to multiple arrests and damage to a police van, with 150 officers deployed to manage the situation.

Reaction

Government Reaction

After the Southport riot, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, stating that those who "hijacked the vigil for the victims" insulted the grieving community and would face the full force of the law. He announced a national violent disorder program to improve police coordination and labeled the actions as "far-right thuggery."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the riot appalling and initiated a criminal investigation, considering the possibility of designating the English Defence League as a proscribed terrorist organization. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner echoed this suggestion.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, criticized the rioters as outsiders exploiting the tragedy for political purposes. The Liverpool Region Mosque Network and the Muslim Association of Britain both condemned the violence.

Nigel Farage faced criticism for suggesting that the truth was being withheld, with accusations from a former counter-terrorism police officer and Jo Cox’s widower of inciting violence and conspiracy theories.

Ahead of anticipated protests, the Muslim Council of Britain advised mosques to enhance security, and anti-racist groups organized counter-protests under "Stop the far right: Don't let the racists divide us."

Home Office Minister David Hanson indicated that police would use facial recognition to identify violent participants, while Northern Ireland church leaders condemned calls for anti-Islamic protests.

The Ministry of Justice considered keeping magistrates' courts open overnight to handle expected arrests, as was done during the 2011 riots. Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones condemned the rioters and criticized the Prime Minister’s response, calling for acknowledgment of the underlying causes of unrest, including "mass uncontrolled immigration," although her statement was later removed from the commission's website.

Online Reaction

Following the riots, many users took to Twitter/X and started posting photos, videos and GIFs in relation to the riots taking place. Hashtags such as #FarageRiots, #RiotsinUK and #TwoTierKeir, started trending on the platform.

Others criticized Elon Musk for allowing far-right commentators like Tommy Robinson for inciting violence on the streets.

Misinformation Spread

@TheNorfolkLion posted a picture of the Brighton Pavillion on Twitter/X with the text "No more mosques. Share if you agree". (see below)

LIKE and SHARE if you agree pic.twitter.com/eSepfknQrR

— Queen Natalie (@TheNorfolkLion) August 3, 2024

The tweet received 12,000 likes and 4,400 retweets, but was later Community Noted as a result of the misinformation.

Tommy Robinson Doxxing Incident

On August 4th, 2024, the Daily Mail published photographs of Tommy Robinson lying on a sun lounger in a five star hotel in Cyprus.

The Daily Mail received criticism from Tommy Robinson and others who accused them of doxxing him.

Related Memes

Man Gets Hit by Brick

During the initial Southport riot on July 30th, 2024, a man who was sheen chanting in front of a camera during the march was later recorded having a brick thrown in his groein. Various videos, one from @LukeRenshaw which received 77,000 likes and 9,000 retweets. Another video with the full footage was posted with a SpongeBob SquarePants title card added into the video from @Biggies_MaIIs which received 44,000 likes and 6,000 retweets.

Cinema. pic.twitter.com/mkoLlMSKhS

— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) July 30, 2024

Many compared the video to Hans Moleman getting hit by a football in The Simpsons. A video edit of the man with the audio clip from the show was then _MaIISposted to Twitter/X, receiving 9,500 likes and 1,000 retweets. (see below)

https://t.co/gquyCwTp3g pic.twitter.com/Rv5lwPWjuP

— Andy Ha (@AndyHa_) July 30, 2024

Titanic Lady

On August 3rd, 2024, footage emerged of a woman talking to a news reporter, claiming that the reason why the RMS Titanic sank was a result of too many foreigners.

Man Looting Greggs

On August 4th, 2024, a video of a man breaking in and looting a Greggs store went viral on Twitter/X.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References

^[1] BBC – Clashes in Southport after town mourns in vigil for victims of stabbing attack

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