UK rattled by racist riots fuelled by disinformation
Racist violence targeting minority groups in the United Kingdom has entered its second week, in the worst outbreak of civil disorder the country has seen in more than a decade.
Mosques, refugee accommodation, and businesses owned by people of colour have been among the targets of far-right extremists, who have rioted in over a dozen towns in England and Northern Ireland.
The unrest began after a mass child stabbing in the northern English town of Southport on 29 July.
The murders sparked false rumours that a Muslim immigrant carried out the attack, which spread on social media driven and amplified by high-profile figures, including Nigel Farage, the right-wing politician known for campaigning for Brexit who now leads the Reform UK party.
Further unrest is expected, and the extremists are reported to be broadening their targets to include immigration lawyers and charities.
One of the worst attacks was in the northern town of Rotherham, where rioters tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers. This incident saw 51 police officers injured as they tried to keep rioters out – a particularly high casualty event for law enforcement in a medium-sized English town.
Other factors have distinguished the violence: its overtly racist nature; the occasional presence of women and children; and the extent and apparent spontaneity of the disorder as it is quickly organised on social media platforms.
But while long-time far-right extremists are suspected of being key organisers, a potent and long-simmering mix of prejudice in the UK has been blamed as an underlying factor for the unrest. Xenophobic and bigoted views, particularly against Muslims and asylum seekers, have become more normalised in the country, with lies and conspiracy theories often repeated by senior ministers in the former Conservative government and some mainstream media outlets.
Social media has come under particular scrutiny, with X, formerly known as Twitter, having played a prominent role. The platform, along with others, was used to spread the lies which preceded the first riots: a false name for the Southport attacker ‘Ali al-Shakati’ was mentioned more than 30,000 times on X one day after the murders, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
Owner Elon Musk has fanned the flames, writing on X that “civil war is inevitable” in the UK. Musk used a conspiracy theory to criticise Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, branding him “#TwoTierKier”, after the false ‘two tier policing’ claim that suggests far-right protesters are dealt with more harshly than people of colour or left-wing activists and protesters. UK politicians are now calling for Musk to be questioned by parliament.
But the UK riots are only the latest example of crises rocking powerful Global North countries in recent years, throwing into further doubt their legitimacy to dominate and run the international aid system.
The New Humanitarian has long explored these kinds of issues. Here’s another chance to watch our June 2020 discussion:
When the West falls into crisis
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