Residents of Southport, England, gathered for the first of the funerals of three girls, killed during a dance class, and called for an end to the rioting.
Hundreds of mourners packed St Patrick’s Catholic Church and took to the street decorated with pink ribbons and balloons in honour of 9-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy who appealed to parents not to commit acts of violence in the name of their daughter was among them.
I am ashamed and I’m so sorry that you had to even consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter, Alice. And I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder on our streets over the past 13 days is hanging their head in shame at the pain that they have caused you, a grieving family.
National-oriented activists used misinformation about the Taylor Swift-themed dance class attack as a pretext for anti-immigrant demonstrations. These escalated into riots and looting as mobs attacked mosques, immigrant-owned shops, and hotels housing asylum seekers.
The riots were fuelled by social media users who spread misinformation about the suspect in the 29 July Southport stabbing. Rumours, later denied, that the suspect was an asylum seeker or Muslim immigrant spread online rapidly. However, the suspect was born in Wales and moved to the Southport area in 2013. His parents were originally from Rwanda.
King’s response
Meanwhile, UK King Charles III applauded the people who took to the streets of British cities earlier this week to help mitigate days of unrest. On Friday, he held telephone audiences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and law enforcement officials.
During the conversations, he expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to police and other emergency services personnel for their efforts to restore order and help those affected by the violence, according to a Buckingham Palace statement.
The king shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many. It remains his majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.
Thousands of anti-racism campaigners took to the streets across Britain to counter any outbreak of violence on Saturday. Police were on alert for further unrest after the country was rocked by riots. Crowds shouted anti-immigrant and Islamophobic slogans, attacked mosques, looted shops, and clashed with police.
Riots subside
The unrest has largely subsided since Wednesday evening, when an expected wave of anti-migration demonstrations failed to materialise following thousands of peaceful protesters gathering across the UK to show their support for immigrants and asylum seekers.
Police prepared for clashes in more than 100 locations after national-oriented groups circulated lists of potential targets on social media. Although anti-racism groups planned counter-protests in response, in most places they reclaimed the streets with nothing to oppose.
Authorities are investigating whether there is a link between the rioters and “football hooligans” groups known for inciting riots at football matches, Starmer said.
My message to the police and all of those that are charged with responding to disorder is maintain that high alert.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that 741 people had been arrested in connection with the violence, including 304 charged with criminal offences. Courts across the country have already begun hearing the cases of those accused of rioting, some of whom face up to three years in prison.
