Statements from the Mayor of London
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has issued a statement on the racist violence that began last week and continues to spread across the country. The Daily TelegraphHe made remarkable statements to . Khan stated that he did not feel safe even in one of the most senior positions in England as a Muslim. Emphasizing that he felt unrest even in London, Khan stated that following the irregularities in the capital, the incidents should be ‘strictly prevented’.
Warnings from London Police
Khan also reminds that London police had warned of further unrest this weekend, stressing that this situation should be taken seriously.
Feeling of Insecurity
Khan stated that this was the first time he felt “unsafe” as a Muslim since his childhood. He also stated that he was targeted by some British press organizations during this period. “Most of them are because I am Muslim,”Khan said, drawing attention to the difficulty of his situation as mayor.
Threats and Security Concerns
Khan said the number of threats he has received has increased in the past few weeks, and they are not just death threats. “The number of threats I receive is quite high, especially because I am Muslim,”He also noted that this situation increased security concerns.
Rising Anger Against Immigrants
- Khan said anti-immigrant rhetoric in the UK was increasing, “There is anger towards immigrants,”he said.
- Criticizing the government’s stance on this issue, Khan emphasized that the situation of migrants should be given more importance.
Traveling with Police Protection
Police officials said they were aware of Khan’s security concerns and were taking the situation seriously. Khan said he had to travel with police protection at all times because of this.
Causes of Recent Events
The UK has been in a state of turmoil in recent days. On July 29, a 17-year-old attacker in Southport left three children dead and 10 people, eight of them children, injured in a knife attack. Following speculative reports on social media, racist and xenophobic groups in Southport clashed with police and threw stones at the Southport Islamic Society Mosque. This led to several police officers being injured and a police van being set on fire. Fifty-three police officers and three police dogs were injured and five people were arrested in the Southport incidents.
Widespread Violence
On August 2, the violence spread to Sunderland in the east of the country. Crowds gathered outside the Masjid-e Anwaar-e Madinah mosque in the city and clashed with police. The crowd set fire to the police station and targeted several public institutions. Three police officers were injured and 10 right-wing extremists were detained.
On the same day as Sunderland, far-right groups gathered in town squares and outside mosques in other cities, including Hartlepool, Liverpool, Glasgow and Dover. On August 3, racist groups took to the streets in around 20 English cities, including Bristol, Hull, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent and Blackburn, and in four locations in the Northern Ireland capital Belfast. Ninety-two people were arrested in these cities after attacking immigrant businesses, mosques, police vehicles and riot police.
On August 4, far-right groups gathered in Weymouth, Middlesbrough and Rotherham, targeting immigrants and the Muslim community. In Rotherham, groups gathered outside a hotel where asylum seekers were staying, throwing objects such as rocks and chairs at the building. During this process, racist and xenophobic groups occasionally clashed with opposing groups and those trying to protect religious and commercial buildings. The incidents escalated after news spread that two fascist activists had been stabbed in Hull and Stoke-on-Trent. However, police announced that these reports were false. Police called for an end to the protests in Blackpool and Manchester, and banned further gatherings.
