UK knife crime incidents are making bigger troubles for the UK government. A 17-year-old teen stabbed young children aged between 5 to 9 in Southport. In this incident, three children were killed and several others along with two adults were wounded.
The suspect appeared at the court. He was born in the UK. The UK policy of not revealing the identity of under eighteen suspects made rumors that the suspect was an immigrant. Following the uncontrollable rumors on the internet, the far-right protesters attacked a mosque in Southport and injured more than 50 police officers.
UK knife crime incidents: Stabbing three young girls
About two dozen children were attending the summer vacation workshop on Monday when an attacker with a knife burst in. Three young children died from their injuries. Ten other people suffered from injuries, among whom five girls and two adults are in critical condition.
The Merseyside Police force said the 17-year-old teenager faces three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder over people injured. The incident happened during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class. He is due to appear in court in Liverpool later Thursday.
UK knife crime incidents: Rumors about the suspect followed by violent protests
A false name of a supposed suspect was circulating on social media. Hours after that, violent protesters were clashing with police outside a nearby mosque. It was the first of several violent protests across England. Police have said the attack was not terrorism-related and that the suspect was born in Britain, quashing speculation on his origins.
Police say the name was fake, as were rumors that the suspect was an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain. By the time a judge said they could identify the teen suspect, rumors already were rife. The right-wing influencers had already pinned the blame on immigrants and Muslims.
Keir Starmer’s reaction to stabbing in UK
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with police leaders on Thursday. He offered them the government’s full backing following violent clashes with protesters in Southport and London. “As far as the far-right is concerned, this is deliberate. This is not a protest that just got out of hand. It is a group of individuals who are absolutely bent on violence.” Starmer told a press conference.
Starmer said the government was establishing a national unit across police forces to tackle violent disorder. He also warned social media companies: “Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online, that is also a crime. It is happening on your premises and the law must rule everywhere.”
UK knife crime incidents: Protesters arrested
Thousands gathered near Starmer’s Downing Street office and residence in London on Wednesday evening. They shouted, “Save our kids.” “We want our country back,” and “Stop the boats”. Protesters also threw flares and smoke canisters towards Downing Street. London’s Metropolitan Police has arrested 111 people for offences including violent disorder and assaults on police officers.
On Tuesday, protesters hurt more than 50 police officers in Southport. Demonstrators set police vans on fire and dismantled garden walls to hurl bricks at officers. The ambulance service said it treated 39 police officers for injuries, and took 27 of them to hospitals.
UK knife crime incidents: Far-right party guilty of charge
Local lawmaker Patrick Hurley said, “Some of the key actors are probably just generating traffic, possibly for monetization.” The misinformation was on the internet further by “people committed to the UK domestic far right,”
The suspect’s name was among protesters. Tommy Robinson, founder of the far-right English Defense League, accused police of “gaslighting” the public.
Far right causing more troubles to fish in troubled waters
Far-right demonstrators have launched violent protests in response to the attack, clashing with police outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday. A police van burns as an unruly crowd clashed with police, July 30, 2024, in Southport, near where the incident of stabbing three girls happened
Police also faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England. Far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves.
Toxic online material led to chaos in UK
Governments around the world, including Britain’s, are struggling with how to curb toxic material online. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Tuesday that social media companies “need to take some responsibility” for the content on their sites.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned social media companies that crime is “happening on your premises. Inciting violence online is a criminal offense. That is not a matter of free speech – it is a criminal offense.” Police issued a statement on Tuesday saying the suspect’s reported name was incorrect. However, police initially provided little information about him other than his age and birthplace of Cardiff, Wales.
Raised danger of using knife in UK:
Statistics show UK knife crime incidents have raised significantly. The number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 15,016 in 2023/24. The number was 12,786 in the previous year. This was the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London since 2019/20.
The increase in knife crime witnessed in London has occurred alongside a general increase in overall crime throughout England and Wales. In 2022/23, there were approximately 6.74 million crime offences across England and Wales. During a similar period, the number of knife homicides also increased, and reached 282 in 2021/22.
Anti-Muslims attacking a mosque while people supporting Muslims
After the violence, people rallied together to support the Muslim community and clear up the mess left by rioters. Dozens of residents were outside Southport Mosque with brushes and shovels on Wednesday morning and cleared bricks from a wall knocked down during the rioting.
The mosque chair, Ibrahim Hussein, told the Guardian eight worshippers had “barricaded” him while hundreds of rioters descended on the mosque. He said: “It really was terrifying, and it was uncalled for.”
