1 month ago
The UK is witnessing widespread rioting and violence by far-right mobs after three children were stabbed to death. The attacks, which were directed at Muslims after a misinformation campaign, are now also being directed at the South-Asian community. And Indians have been caught in the crossfire.
As rioting and violence by the far-right spread across the UK, it is the South-Asian community that is bearing the brunt of the anti-immigration rage. (Image: Reuters)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 7, 2024 13:35 IST
"Earlier, only Muslims were being targeted in the riots, now all kinds of immigrants are being attacked here," an Indian immigrant living in Manchester said on the far-right rioting in the UK.
Broken cars, doors and windows. Violence, bloodshed and riots. This is the UK after a deadly stabbing incident and a false information campaign. A Taylor Swift-themed yoga class turned into a nightmare. This is the worst civil disorder that England has seen in the last decade.
Such has been the violence that the High Commission of India in London on Tuesday (July 6) issued an advisory to Indian travellers in the UK to "exercise caution and stay vigilant".
It started when three girls were stabbed by Axel Rudakubana in Southport in the yoga class. What followed was misinformation about Rudakubana being a Muslim, rioting and attacks on immigrants.
This started after Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, were stabbed to death in Southport by Axel Rudakubana. Eight other children were injured.
WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING TO INDIANS IN THE UK?
Before Rudakubana's identity could be revealed, rumours about him being a Muslim asylum seeker who had entered the UK by boat spread like a wildfire.
Far-right supporters gathered in Southport, before the city could grieve the death of three girls. They injured 50 police officials, reported The Guardian.
In Yorkshire, rioters tried to set fire to an asylum seeker's housing, and they also attacked police officers.
"By taking the killing of three girls, and the rumour that followed. They started attacking Muslims and mosques in the UK. The hate soon spread to all South Asian immigrants. I don't know how they reached that conclusion," a student based in Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire in the UK told IndiaToday.in.
In Middlesbrough, 300 rioters smashed the cars and windows of many residents. Cars were also set on fire and nine people have been arrested.
There were counter-protests and retaliation too.
"Some Muslim boys retaliated too, but mostly the messaging is to not do that and fall into their argument that we [immigrants] are troublemakers, and we should be 'sent back'. We are trying not to be a part of this violence. The stakes are higher for us. Even the police are being attacked. Maybe if more police were deployed, who knows it could have been stopped," she said.
'RIOTERS LOOTING SHOPS, IT'S TERRIYYING IN THE UK'
A message is also being circulated widely on social media in the UK.
"They won't stop coming until you tell them. No more immigration. 8pm. Mask up. Spread this as far as you can," the message, widely circulating in the UK, read.
It gives a list of immigration centres and clinics housing immigrants in the UK.
The far-right rioters are also looting shops, causing disorder in various corners of the UK. They are primarily attacking asylum centres. They are also attacking the police.
"The rioters are looting shops and doing whatever it is they feel like doing. It is terrifying. I live 20 minutes away from the immigration centre, there is not much to worry about logically. But I am still worried," an Indian working in Manchester, UK told IndiaToday.in.
Misinformation has made the lives of South Asian immigrants difficult.
"Everyone has misinformation. The guy who did the killing was Muslim. Even when it has been clarified by the police that he was not. They want it to become us vs them. They are not willing to listen," said the student from Middlesbrough.
RIOTS, PROTESTS, 'FAR-RIGHT THUGGERY' OR CIVIL WAR?
The far-right and many media outlets are calling it protests. There might be more to it.
"These protests do not look like protests. It is just masked people. What protests happen with masked people, petrol bombs thrown at officers? Throwing stones at people's windows, does it sound like protest? They are riots, not protests," said the student.
In some areas of the UK, it is safe to go out now, but Indians are still scared.
"It is safe to go out now, but the planned attacks are still about to happen. Immigrant agencies throughout the country could be attacked," she told IndiaToday.in.
They are hoping the riots are over soon.
"Now, that everyone knows that misinformation was one of the reasons for the riots, I hope this is over soon," said the working professional from Manchester.
British PM Keir Starmer has already condemned the violence.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the riots as "far right thuggery" and part of "racist rhetoric."
“Let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them: Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online, is also a crime. It’s happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere,” Starmer said, reported The Guardian.
Elon Musk, CEO of X has refuted Starmer's claims of social media causing the unrest as "insane." Musk also posted, "civil war is inevitable".
But amid riots and social media wars, there are stories of shared community, hope and reaching out to each other.
"After the riots were over in Middlesbrough, cleaners and locals cleared up the area from 6 in the morning. They wanted to put out an example. It is not the public vs immigrants. Some elements are trying to invoke fear, it is not all people," the Indian student concluded.
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 7, 2024
