Sunderland — Violent far-right riots erupted in Sunderland, a city in northeast England, following anti-immigrant protests sparked by the killing of three children at a dance class earlier this week.
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron reported that officers faced “serious and sustained levels of violence” on Friday night. Several hundred people rampaged through Sunderland’s city centre, attacking police and setting fire to a car and a building next to a police office.
Eight people were arrested after what Barron described as “utterly deplorable” disturbances. Three officers required hospital treatment, with two remaining hospitalized early on Saturday.
Social media images showed balaclava-clad youths throwing bricks as fireworks and flares were set off.
“The shocking scenes we have witnessed in Sunderland this evening are completely unacceptable,” Barron said, emphasizing that the “disorder, violence and damage” will not be tolerated. A full investigation is underway to identify anyone else responsible.
The violence followed two nights of unrest in various English towns and cities after the stabbing in Southport of three children—Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Bebe King, six—at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class.
Online misinformation blamed the killings on a Muslim immigrant. The alleged perpetrator was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a Christian born in the UK to Rwandan parents. Police have stated that the case is not being treated as terror-related but have not revealed a motive.
Anger over the killings fueled anti-immigration sentiment, with far-right social media channels advertising “enough is enough” anti-immigrant rallies.
Lewis Atkinson, Sunderland Central MP for the ruling Labour Party, linked the unrest in his constituency to remnants of the English Defence League (EDL), founded by Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon). Although the group has disbanded, its supporters remain active, and Atkinson suggested that a Nazi offshoot was involved in the violence.
Atkinson expressed sadness for Sunderland, condemning the group of “racists” who attacked police officers and targeted a mosque. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that protests had been promoted by various social media groups following the Southport stabbings.
“The far right, for example Stephen Yaxley Lennon, picked up on those and started promoting and encouraging known far-right individuals to join,” he said. “A night of idiots will not prevent us from building.”
Earlier in the week, protesters clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport and threw beer cans, bottles, and flares near the prime minister’s office in London. Police arrested 111 people after a rally in Westminster turned violent on Wednesday.
Friday night’s disturbances in Sunderland, following a calm night nationwide on Thursday, signaled potential trouble in the coming days. London’s Metropolitan Police said it had a “proportionate and risk-based” plan for rival pro-Palestinian and anti-immigration protests on Saturday.
Responding to the events in Sunderland, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that rioters will “pay the price for their violence and thuggery,” asserting that they do not represent Britain. She gave police “the full backing of government to take the strongest possible action and ensure they face the full force of the law.”
Faith leaders reported that mosques have been attacked and have stepped up security measures. The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the violence, urging that such behavior be addressed and prevented from recurring.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with local leaders in Southport to discuss “a package of support for the local community,” a day after announcing a new “national capability” to tackle disorder following recent disturbances. The new measures include sharing intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology, and criminal behavior orders to restrict troublemakers from traveling.
Downing Street lit up in pink on Friday evening “as a mark of respect and solidarity with everyone affected by the tragic incidents which took place earlier this week,” stating, “We stand in solidarity with Southport.”