UK riots: How misleading information about knife stabbing incident online led to unrest

The rapid spread of misinformation online has reportedly been the driver of violence across the UK, as a knife-stabbing incident in Southport has brought right-wing rioters out on the streets.

Though the accused was reportedly arrested by Merseyside Police was Britain-born, the groups on social media reportedly spread the misinformation about the accused being an ‘immigrant Muslim man’ before the identity was disclosed by the court.

What happened at Southport? 

The UK riots have led to attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers after the knife-stabbing incident of July 29 where three children died, and multiple others were injured at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

After the restrictions on disclosing the identity of the accused were lifted, it was revealed that the attacker was not a Muslim immigrant but a 17-year-old boy named Axel Rudakubana, born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents.

However, till then, the unrest had already grappled the UK as disinformation spreading online about the nationality of the boy and his religious affiliation fueled hatred towards Muslims and the immigrant population in general, leading to violent clashes between far-right protesters and police officers across the UK. The protests reached a climax during the weekend.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for public order, BJ Harrington, said on Aug 4 that since the night of Aug 3, there have been 147 arrests connected to violence. He said he expected that the number would rise in the coming days.

“Disinformation is a huge driver of this appalling violence, and we know a lot of those attending these so-called protests are doing so in direct response to what they’ve read online,” Harrington said.

Responding to the unrest in the UK, the newly-elected Labour Party’s Keir Starmer condemned “far-right thuggery” in his televised address.

“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, either directly or those whipping up this disorder online,” Starmer said on Aug 4.

Following violent protests in major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Sunderland and Belfast on Aug 3, riots were seen in places such as Middlesbrough, where burning wheelie bins were thrown at police, and Rotherham, where at least one police officer was injured as rioters hurled missiles and stormed a Holiday Inn Express thought to have housed migrants. In Bolton, police have been given extra powers to calm violence after bottles and missiles were thrown at them.

Referring to the violent attack on the Rotherham hotel, Starmer said: “There is no justification for taking this action”.

The Prime Minister said he would not “shy away from calling it what it is” and called the violence “far-right thuggery”.

“People in this country have a right to be safe and yet we have seen Muslim communities targeted and attacks on mosques,” Starmer said.

In a press conference on Aug 2, Starmer urged big social media companies to take responsibility for combating misinformation and disinformation.

The riots have now been defined as the “worst riots in 13 years” in the UK by Al Jazeera.

UK protects mosques amid violence

As per the statement of the home office on Aug 4, the government provided a new rapid response process for mosques at risk of violent disorder which will be offered additional security personnel, providing communities with vital support and reassurance. 

“Britain is a proud and tolerant country, and nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the hooligans, thugs and extremist groups who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops or attacking people based on the colour of their skin,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the statement.

“As a nation, we will not tolerate criminal behaviour, dangerous extremism, and racist attacks that go against everything our country stands for,” Cooper added.