England UK Riots - Renewed Rioting Sweeps British Cities In Wake Of Child Murders: Axel Rudakubana Arrested

Liverpool, England/Belfast, Aug 3 (Reuters) – A wave of violent disorder engulfed multiple British cities on Saturday, injuring police officers and damaging property in what is being described as the most widespread rioting in the country in 13 years. 

The unrest, which has spread to Liverpool, Bristol, Hull, and Belfast, follows the tragic murder of three young girls in northwest England. The riots erupted after false information circulated rapidly on social media, alleging that the suspect in a recent knife attack on a children's dance class in Southport was a radical Muslim migrant. 

However, authorities have clarified that the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, 17, was born in Britain. Despite this, protests by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim demonstrators have continued, escalating into violence, arson, and looting.

In Liverpool, violence broke out between rival groups of protesters, with hundreds involved in the clashes. The disorder resulted in two police officers being hospitalized with suspected facial fractures, while another officer was assaulted after being pushed from his motorbike. 

The riots also led to the vandalism and looting of at least two shops in the city, according to Merseyside Police. Bristol, in the southwest, saw similar scenes of chaos. Anti-racist protesters outnumbered their anti-immigration counterparts, and the confrontation with police in riot gear was captured on television footage. 

The violence in Belfast included damage to businesses, with at least one establishment reported to have been set on fire. Rahmi Akyol, a café owner in Belfast, expressed his shock and dismay, stating, "I’ve lived here 35 years. My kids, my wife is from here. I don’t know what to say, it’s terrible."

Across the UK, police have made numerous arrests for offenses including violent disorder, burglary, and criminal damage. Additional police forces have been deployed in cities to manage the unrest, and mosques nationwide have been advised to bolster security following an attack on a mosque in Southport earlier in the week.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first major challenge since his election a month ago, has condemned the violence perpetrated by far-right groups and expressed support for the police’s efforts to restore order. His office confirmed that he discussed the situation with senior ministers on Saturday.

The scale of the recent violence is reminiscent of the 2011 riots, which were sparked by the police shooting of a Black man in London and saw thousands take to the streets over five nights. On Friday night, unrest spread to Sunderland, where anti-immigration demonstrators threw stones at police, overturned vehicles, and set a car alight near a police station.

"This was not a protest. This was unforgivable violence and disorder," stated Mark Hall, chief police superintendent of the Sunderland area. Plans for further protests were already in place for Sunday, raising concerns about the potential for more violence.