UK stunned as right-wing hate targets Muslims ‘by mistake’

Muhammad Amin

UK prime minister Kier Stamer claims to have set up a “standing army” of specialist police officers to combat right-wing riots targeting Muslims.

The riots broke out last week after a Somali teenager, Axel Rudakubana, stabbed three young girls to death at a dance class last Monday. Racist logic added his blackness, his use of a knife and three dead girls to come to the erroneous conclusion he was Muslim.

Over 400 people have been arrested in the violence that has swept across the country.

Starmer held an emergency Cobra meeting Sunday after far-right mobs carried out racist attacks and set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and Tamworth.

Cobra meetings, or Cobr meetings, are named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A on Whitehall. It is a committee that sees ministers, civil servants, the police, intelligence officers, and other appropriate people meeting to discuss an emergency response plan to a particular issue.

“I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law,” Starmer said.

Australia has become the third country Monday to issue a warning to citizens travelling to the UK following the riots.

It advised travellers to “Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence” as it urged people to “monitor the media for information and updates”.

It comes after Malaysia alerted citizens living or visiting the UK to “stay away” from protest areas and “remain vigilant”.

The Nigerian Interior Ministry also issued a warning this morning, citing an “increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK”.

The Independent reports police patrols are being stepped up in Teesside over the coming days amid fears the area could be hit with more violent disorder.

Political leaders across Merseyside have said they are committed to restoring “peace and safety”.

In a statement, the leader of Sefton Council Councillor Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram and council leaders of Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton said: “As political leaders, we want to assure each and every one of you that such behaviour will not be tolerated. We are committed to restoring peace and safety in our communities.