New Delhi: India Tuesday became the latest country to issue an advisory to citizens travelling to the riot-struck United Kingdom.
“Indian travellers would be aware of recent disturbances in some parts of the United Kingdom. The High Commission of India in London is closely monitoring the situation. Visitors from India are advised to stay vigilant and exercise due caution while travelling in the UK,” read the statement released by the High Commission of India to the UK.
“It is advisable to follow local news and advisories issued by local security agencies, and to avoid areas where protests are underway,” it added.
At least 400 people have been arrested over the violent unrest and disorder seen in the UK, which began last Monday after three young girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, near Liverpool. Two adults and eight children were injured in the attack, and according to reports, nine of them have since been discharged.
Far-Right supporters have attempted to take advantage of the stabbings and use the attack as proof of crimes committed by asylum seekers in the UK. The subsequent protests and violence was driven in part due to disinformation that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker, which quickly spread across social media platforms.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a 17-year old, has been charged with murder of the three girls and attempted murder of 10 others. Rudakubana was also charged for possessing a curved knife. He was born in the city of Cardiff in Wales, and his name and details were released by the courts after applications were received from the media, the BBC reported.
Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia are some of the other countries that have issued warnings to citizens in or travelling to the UK.
In a statement Monday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Demonstrations by far-Right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances been unruly. These disturbances have only been aggravated by the unfortunate deaths of the three girls and it has spawned an anti-immigration narrative, with particular emphasis on Muslim immigrants or persons of colour being targeted.”
Malaysia was the first country to react to the violence in the UK, issuing an advisory Sunday that urged its citizens to “stay away from protest areas, remain vigilant” and to follow updates and guidance from the local authorities.
Indonesia later joined Malaysia, with its embassy in London appealing to its citizens to remain vigilant and avoid the demonstrations.
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The situation in the UK
Riots and disorder have spread across at least 15 towns and cities in the UK, with dozens of police officers injured, businesses looted and mosques attacked. There were also attempts to break into a hotel where asylum seekers were lodged.
The violence is the biggest challenge thus far for the new prime minister, Keir Starmer, who became the UK’s leader in July. He has vowed to crack down on the individuals involved and bring charges against them as quickly as possible.
Starmer referred to the attack on the hotel as “far-Right thuggery” and vowed to do whatever was necessary to bring “these thugs” to justice.
The cities and towns affected in England included Nottingham, Manchester, Plymouth, London, Hull, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Liverpool, Preston, Blackburn, Leeds and Rotherham, among others. The violence has also spread to other parts of the the UK, including Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Arrests were made in all the aforementioned cities and towns, the BBC reported. The British government has announced at least 567 new places in prisons to house the far-Right rioters, according to reports.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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