International
Anti-racism protests sweep UK after far-right riots
LONDON — Thousands of police and anti-racism protesters gathered on streets across UK on Aug 7 to challenge expected far-right groups that failed to materialise following more than a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants. Bri
Britain has been hit by a series of riots that erupted early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, triggering a wave of false messaging online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant.
Posts online had said far-right, anti-Muslim protesters would target a list of immigration centres, migrant support centres and specialist law firms on Aug 7, prompting many businesses to close early and some shops to board up windows.
The reports prompted the deployment of thousands of police officers, and crowds of protesters massed in towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Hastings, holding banners saying "Fight racism", "Stop the far right" and "Will trade racists for refugees".
