UK: Far-Right mob riots outside Mosque in Southport following misinformation campaign
Southport, UK: A far-right mob rioted outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday, setting a police van on fire following a misinformation campaign that falsely claimed the 17-year-old suspect in a recent fatal stabbing was a Muslim.
The rioters, chanting racist and Islamophobic slogans such as “English till I die,” pelted stones, bricks, and bins at riot police. The Southport Islamic Society Mosque sustained damage during the unrest.
The violence erupted after a vigil was held to remember the victims of a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday. The attack resulted in the deaths of three children: Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. Eight other children and two adults suffered stab wounds, with five children remaining in critical condition.
According to BBC News, the 17-year-old suspect, who cannot be legally identified due to his age, was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved to Southport in 2013. Despite these facts, a massive misinformation campaign falsely claimed the suspect was a Muslim, leading to the violent backlash.
Muslim groups in the UK condemned the attack. The Muslim Association of Britain stated, “Weaponising the tragic killings of innocent children in such an overt display of Islamophobia is horrific.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence, stating, “Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves. They will feel the full force of the law,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Merseyside Police condemned the violence, reporting that one officer suffered a suspected broken nose. Photos and videos on social media showed riot police with cuts and grazes following clashes with the mob.
“At around 7.45 pm, a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League – began to throw items towards a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport,” the police stated.
Misinformation expert Marc Owen Jones reported that posts speculating or falsely claiming the attacker was a Muslim, migrant, refugee, or foreigner generated at least 27 million impressions. Several major social media accounts, including influencer Andrew Tate, also propagated the false claim that the attacker was an illegal immigrant.
The North West Ambulance Service reported that 39 police officers were injured during the unrest, which occurred just hours after the vigil for the knife attack victims.
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Rajasthan: Constable shunted to police lines after sharing Rahul Gandhi's post on 'vote theft'
Jaipur (PTI): A constable posted in Didwana-Kuchaman was shunted to police lines after he allegedly reposted a post by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi using the official X handle of the district police.
The post, which alleged "vote theft" in Haryana by the central government and the Election Commission, was reposted on Wednesday evening. However, it was removed immediately after the matter came to the notice of senior officials.
Officials said that the police department does not support the post.
The constable was responsible for operating the X handle. He was removed from the duty and attached to police lines, the officials said.
Superintendent of Police Richa Tomar said that the police department does not support the post and it was removed immediately after it came to notice.
"The post may have been shared due to an individual's mistake or account hacking. A detailed inquiry has been assigned to the Additional Superintendent of Police, Didwana," the SP added.
The post had claimed irregularities in Haryana's voter list, including multiple votes registered under the same photo and duplicate entries across different constituencies.
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