In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Southport, scores more protests remain planned for this weekend, but protesters will face the full force of the law.
The knife attack at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class on Monday that left three girls dead has sparked riots in a number of towns and cities across England. Earlier on Tuesday, violence erupted outside a mosque in the town, injuring 53 police officers and three service dogs. Then, on Wednesday night, more than 100 protesters arrested in Whitehall, where bottles and cans tossed at police, while violence broke out in Hartlepool, County Durham, and in Manchester outside the Holiday Inn on Oldham Road. The protest in Sunderland on Friday night saw beer barrels thrown at police and then a fire started as hundreds of protesters, some wearing balaclavas or carrying England flags, took to the streets.
In the meantime, police and government authorities are now preparing for riots over the weekend as around 35 protests are planned following the murder of three children in Southport. In addition, activist group Hope Not Hate has identified more than 30 protests planned across the UK over the next two days.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has promised to “make sure criminals pay the price” for any violence, while the government has rallied around the police in anticipation of possible large-scale riots. In addition, she will be receiving regular updates over the weekend, with a further 70 prosecutors on hand to quickly bring charges against those who intended to provoke disorder or wreak havoc in the community, The Independent said.
Meanwhile, amid concerns about the continuing threat from far-right groups, the judge on Thursday named the stabbing suspect – Cardiff-born Axel Rudakubana, 17 – to stop the spread of misinformation about his identity. However, the judge’s move failed to stop the fringe groups from mobilising, as many events promoted anti-immigration policies and spread slogans such as “enough is enough,” “save our children” and “stop the boats.”
Except, also on Friday, Prime Minster Keir Starmer returned to Southport for a second visit, where he met community and police leaders to present a package of support measures. He visited Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where many of the victims were receiving treatment. The Prime Minister praised the resilience of the Southport community for their courage and kindness in the wake of the violence.
“As a nation, we stand with those who tragically have lost loved ones in the heinous attack in Southport, which ripped through the very fabric of this community and left us all in shock. It is truly inspiring to hear of all the ways in which people have come together in the face of such horrors to demonstrate true bravery, resilience and solidarity. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that people are going through right now, but I am determined to make sure that Southport and its leaders have all the support they need to preserve and nurture this strength of community spirit – not just in the immediate aftermath but also in the years to come.”
The support package involves the Government and local partners working together to co-ordinate multi-agency support for the bereaved families and all those affected. It will also support the efforts of local leaders to honour the memory of the dead and injured by working with schools and other victims to pay their respects in accordance with the wishes of the local community. The package will also seek to build community cohesion and local resilience, including by creating a programme of local community events and classes that will help bring people together and build long-term support networks.
“It will not happen overnight but we are determined to restore trust, build on that remarkable resilience and, above all, ensure that Bebe [King], Elsie [Dot Stancombe] and Alice [Dasilva Aguiar], and the victims and those traumatised, are never forgotten,” according to Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram.
