UPDATED: In a dramatic turn of events, thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets across England on Wednesday night, countering a week of anti-immigrant rioting and disorder. The peaceful demonstrations have brought a temporary sense of relief to a nation on edge.
Gatherings in potential hotspots such as north London, Bristol and Newcastle were largely peaceful. Counter-protesters, chanting “refugees are welcome here,” formed the majority of the crowds, defusing tensions in areas where anti-immigration protests had been anticipated, the BBC reports.
Police had braced for further violence, deploying thousands of officers across the country. However, the evening’s events unfolded peacefully.
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“We put thousands of officers on the street and I think the show of force from the police and frankly the show of unity from communities, together defeated the challenges that we’ve seen,” London Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley told the BBC. “It went off very peacefully last night. A couple of locations we had some local criminals turn out and try and create a bit of anti-social behavior and we arrested a few of them. But it was a very successful night and the fears of extreme-right disorder were abated. A successful operation thanks to communities and police.”
Rowley dismissed the notion that the rioters were “protesters” or “patriots.” “These are criminals, they’re thugs, they’re not patriots,” Rowley said. “Any suggestion they’re patriots or they’ve got a cause that they’re protesting about is nonsense – they’re criminals.”
PREVIOUSLY: The British capital finds itself on edge as authorities prepare for possible disturbances following a week of riots across the U.K..
London, headquarters of most of the U.K.’s major media businesses, is in a state of uneasy preparedness in anticipation of being the next target of the riots that have ravaged the country over the past week, following the killing of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 30.
Metropolitan Police have increased patrols in key areas, while businesses in central London have implemented additional security measures.
Variety understands that Comcast’s pay-TV operator Sky have advised staff to leave work earlier in order to ensure their safety is prioritized. Variety has reached out to BBC and a few other media businesses to check if they have taken similar measures.
In Plymouth, a performance of a theatrical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada” was also canceled due to protests planned nearby.
According to BBC reports, police sources reveal a staggering scale of potential unrest. Forces are gearing up to respond to more than 100 possible events and up to 30 counter-protests on Wednesday alone. The gatherings are expected to span 41 out of 43 police force areas in England and Wales.
The BBC reports that immigration centers and lawyers’ offices are likely to be the primary targets for protesters. In response, police forces across the country are pooling resources and sharing intelligence.
West End theaters and film productions in London remain operational as of Wednesday afternoon.
The unrest sparked in the wake of the deaths of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9 who fell victim to a multiple stabbing that also left eight other children injured.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with their murders of the three children and 10 counts of attempted murder. Initially, his identity was withheld due to U.K. law granting anonymity to minors in court proceedings. This led to a spread of misinformation online, with false claims about the suspect’s background going viral and inflaming far-right sentiment. Gangs attacked immigrants and minorities and looted shops.
The unrest spread to other towns and cities across the U.K. in subsequent days. Newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former public prosecutor, said: “Be in no doubt: those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law. The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand. Charges will follow. And convictions will follow. I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder.” He also condemned “”far-right thuggery.”
The police have followed through on Starmer’s warning and more than 400 arrests have been made with sentencing of the perpetrators continuing through Wednesday.
As tensions escalate, scenes of preparation for potential unrest are unfolding across England. Reports are coming in of businesses being boarded up, shops pulling down their shutters, and increased police presence on the streets.
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