UK: Protesters loot shops amid escalating riot in Rotherham

In the latest wave of unrest in United Kingdom, rioters hurled bricks, bottles, and flares at police officers, resulting in several injuries.

The chaos included looting and arson of shops, with demonstrators shouting anti-Islamic slurs as they clashed with counter-protesters.

During a rally in Rotherham, anti-immigration protesters broke a window at a migrant hotel and ignited a fire outside.

The altercations with police occurred around 2 PM on Sunday.

Some protesters were seen breaking into the hotel, while others set fire to a bin nearby. Despite police efforts to control the situation, the fire continued to burn.

Supporters of far-right activist Tommy Robinson were also present, chanting in his favour. Some masked demonstrators threw objects at police officers at the Holiday Inn in South Yorkshire, injuring at least one officer.

UK leader Keir Starmer addressed the nation, warning far-right protesters that they would “regret” their actions, marking England’s worst rioting in 13 years. The unrest, linked to the murder of three children earlier in the week, has spread across the country for the fifth consecutive day.

Misinformation about a mass stabbing in Southport has fueled the violence, leading to clashes between anti-immigration protesters and police. Starmer condemned the “far-right thuggery” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The riots initially erupted in Southport following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party. The suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, is accused of killing three children and injuring ten others. False rumors about Rudakubana’s background circulated on social media, exacerbating the unrest.

Supporters of the English Defence League, an anti-Islam organization, have been implicated in the violence. Attacks on at least two mosques have prompted the UK interior ministry to offer emergency security measures for Islamic places of worship.

The rallies, promoted under the slogan “Enough is enough,” have seen participants waving British flags and chanting “Stop the boats,” referring to irregular migrants crossing from France. Anti-fascist groups have organized counter-rallies, including one in Leeds where they chanted, “Nazi scum off our streets.”

While many protests have turned violent, some, like a peaceful rally in Aldershot, have remained calm. Participants there held signs reading “Stop the invasion” and “We’re not far right, we’re just right.”

A protester in Nottingham expressed frustration, stating, “People are fed up with being told you should be ashamed if you’re white and working class, but I’m proud to be white working class.”

AFP