Far-right groups are anticipated to riot in various locations across London and the UK on Wednesday (07 August). Protesters are expected to gather in Walthamstow, Barnet, Hounslow, and Harrow, following the leak of a list from a racist Telegram group that outlined immigration centers targeted for assembly by these groups.
In recent days, there have been violent incidents in several cities, including London, Southport, Liverpool, Hull, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, and Sunderland. These incidents involved individuals, some wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons, who have been shouting Islamophobic slurs, attacking people of non-white heritage, defacing homes with racist graffiti, targeting mosques, clashing with police, and engaging in looting.
The unrest was sparked in Southport after misinformation spread, falsely claiming that a boy arrested for deaths in Merseyside was a refugee. This false narrative alleged that the boy was a Muslim who had entered the UK illegally, which incited the far-right groups to blame immigration and escalate their violent actions. The authorities are on high alert, preparing for further potential violence and unrest throughout the day.
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