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UK police have ramped up their presence and prepared for potential unrest as far-right activists plan to gather at immigration centers on Wednesday night. Following online calls for action, authorities are poised to arrest hundreds more participants if violence erupts.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the readiness of law enforcement after an emergency meeting with top ministers and police officials, stating, “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed it’s in place.”
The recent upheaval was sparked by misinformation following a tragic attack in Southport that left three young girls dead. Far-right activists falsely accused a Muslim asylum-seeker of the crime, aiming to incite anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments.
In response, the government has organized a substantial police presence to quell the disorder. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper assured that police would receive government support for overtime and additional resources. “Criminals should expect to pay the price for violent thuggery and disorder on our streets,” she said, adding that online inciters will also face prosecution.
So far, nearly 380 individuals have been arrested, with about 100 charged. The Crown Prosecution Service is working intensively to process these cases swiftly. One individual has been charged with inciting violence online, demonstrating that digital agitators will face accountability.
Reports indicate that far-right activists are using platforms like Telegram to coordinate demonstrations at approximately 30 refugee and immigration centers. Nottinghamshire Police debunked a claim about one such location, revealing it to be the home of a vulnerable elderly person, not connected to immigration services.
Despite the lack of a formal leadership structure, prominent figures like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have been implicated in fomenting unrest. The UK government also criticized Elon Musk for his comments on the X platform, suggesting that “civil war is inevitable.”
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine stressed the severity of the situation, declaring, “This country is faced with one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade. We will use every power, tactic and tool available to prevent further scenes of disorder.”
This article is based on material first published by Bloomberg, by Alex Wickham. The original version and full context can be found in the original article.
Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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