UK on High Alert for Far-Right Rallies

AFP/APP

London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that authorities must remain vigilant this weekend amid concerns about potential far-right violence in English towns and cities.

This follows a week of unrest triggered by a deadly knife attack that killed three children.

Starmer noted that recent actions by the criminal justice system, including swift sentencing of rioters, have helped deter further violence.

Despite two nights of relative calm in England, disturbances continue in Northern Ireland, where police attribute the violence to pro-UK loyalist paramilitaries.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining high alert to ensure community safety and security, particularly with the football season starting, which could add to the challenges faced by the police.

Far-right agitators, some linked to England’s football hooligan scene, have been involved in the unrest.

Police have arrested nearly 500 people related to the unrest since July 30, with about a dozen jailed on Thursday.

The violence, including attacks on mosques and migrant facilities, has been exacerbated by misinformation about the suspect spread on social media.