02 Aug 2024 | 03:58 PM UTC
UK: Further protests denouncing the Southport knife attack planned nationwide through at least Aug. 5 /update 1
Protests denouncing the Southport knife attack are planned in cities across the UK through at least Aug. 5.
Further protests denouncing the July 29 Southport knife attack are scheduled in urban centers throughout the UK through at least Aug. 5. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that law enforcement officers are adopting a heightened posture nationwide. Authorities in Southport are enacting a Section 60 Order, allowing them to stop and search individuals without meeting regular probable cause thresholds. The Muslim Council of Britain has announced increased security at mosques nationwide.
Planned protests include but are not limited to:
Belfast: Protest at Belfast City Hall from 12:00 Aug. 3 before marching to the Belfast Islamic Center on University Road at 13:00.
Bristol: Protest at Castle Park from 19:00 Aug. 3.
Leeds: Protest at Leeds Town Hall from 13:00 Aug. 3.
Additionally, counter-protests have been announced across the country. Planned counter-protests include but are not limited to:
Birmingham: Protest near 80 High Street from 14:00 Aug. 4.
Leeds: Protest at Leeds Central Library on Calverley Street from 12:30 Aug. 3.
Liverpool: Protest at St. George's Hall from 13:00 Aug. 3.
Manchester: Protest at Piccadilly Gardens from 09:00 Aug. 3
Protests on July 30-31 primarily took place outside sites associated with Muslim or immigrant communities, including a center for asylum seekers in Manchester and a mosque in Southport. Further protests, which may take place with little notice, could target similar sites in urban centers nationwide. Government buildings, particularly in London, could also be affected by related protests.
Heightened security will likely be visible in urban areas and towns nationwide through the coming days. Protests and counter-demonstrations are particularly likely to occur at or near mosques. Localized transport disruptions will likely accompany any demonstrations. Despite the heightened posture, police may be slow to respond to unannounced demonstrations. Clashes between demonstrators and police, as well as acts of vandalism against mosques and asylum centers, cannot be ruled out. Unauthorized demonstrations, particularly those that feature violence or vandalism, face an increased threat of provoking police action. Bystanders would face an incidental risk should any violence occur. Authorities may expand Section 60 Orders to additional areas, increasing the likelihood of interactions with police.
As a standard precaution, avoid all related demonstrations. Monitor local media for updates on protests. Allow additional time if traveling near demonstrations. Strictly heed all instructions from law enforcement officers. Immediately depart the area at the first sign of any security disturbance.
The July 29 Southport knife attack, in which three children were killed and several others injured, has prompted a strong and immediate response from Southport residents, anti-immigration activists, and nationalist activists.
Protests began in Southport on July 30, where anti-immigration activists clashed with police outside a local mosque following peaceful gatherings by residents and local politicians. On July 31, around 100 anti-immigration and nationalist activists were arrested following violent protests near Downing Street and Whitehall in London; related demonstrations also took place in Manchester, Hartlepool, and Aldershot, where several arrests and injuries occurred.
