LONDON: Police in the UK have been urged to bolster protection for mosques and Muslim community following recent attacks by far-right white extremist protesters.
This call to action comes after mosques in Southport and Hartlepool were targeted by mobs earlier this week, and unrest spread to other cities across the country.
The violence erupted after the stabbing deaths of three children in Southport on Monday. Misleading information circulating online falsely suggested that the suspect was a Muslim asylum-seeker.
However, the perpetrator was later identified in court as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Judge Andrew Menary KC decided to lift reporting restrictions on Rudakubana’s identity to prevent further spread of misinformation.
The false claims have fueled concerns about increased risks for mosques and asylum-seekers.
Iman Atta, director of the organization Tell Mama, which tracks Islamophobia in the UK, emphasized the need for heightened police patrols around mosques and asylum-seeker accommodations to provide reassurance to the communities. He suggested that neighborhood teams should adjust their patrol schedules to enhance security.
Recent protests in Manchester and Aldershot saw demonstrators targeting migrant accommodation with inflammatory slogans such as “deport them, don’t support them” and “no apartments for illegals.” In London, at least 110 people were arrested after flares were thrown at a protest near Downing Street.
Shaukat Warraich, a director at Mosque Security, reported a surge in inquiries and downloads of online security advice due to the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment following the Southport murders. According to The Guardian, 19 far-right rallies are anticipated across England in the coming days, with counter-demonstrations planned in London and Liverpool.
Atta called for calm and vigilance, noting the role of online far-right organizing in promoting hatred and misinformation. Nahella Ashraf from Stand Up to Racism Manchester linked the violence to broader social discontent, including anger over political issues and the cost of living crisis.
