UK residents have mobilized in peaceful counterprotests to stand up against the hateful mobs in the wake of a series of violent outbursts by far-right extremist groups across the UK in recent days.
After last Monday's stabbing in Southport resulted in three deaths and multiple injuries, false information about the suspect's nationality spread online, sparking a series of violent far-right anti-immigration protests that have continued for a week and peaked over the weekend.
In the past week, protesters were seen throwing projectiles, attacking officers, looting stores and storming hotels that were housing asylum seekers in major cities like London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Plymouth and Belfast, as well as in towns like Middlesbrough, Bolton and Rotherham.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since violent demonstrations broke out last week. Thousands of police officers are on stand-by to deal with the unrest.
In London's west side, UK Immigration Help's office in Brentford was included on a far-right list of potential targets. A few kilometers away, shops and a hotel closed early. The threat of violence and more disturbances was enough for them to lock their doors.
"I don't expect any troubles, but things can change. These hooligans and vandalism is going from very high to a scary moment. It's a scary moment," said Atool Vinda, a shop owner.
Vinda added that if a riot breaks out, he will definitely close his store.
In Liverpool, many gatherings formed near migrant centers in demonstration against racism and in opposition to the disturbances of the far right.
"I think the major cause of it is anger and frustration, and I think lots of that frustration is caused through ignorance basically," said a man at the anti-racism demonstration.
"The three girls that died, we feel for them, but there's no need to turn on people that were not involved in it," said a fellow demonstrator.
Peaceful resistance rises against surge of anti-immigrant riots in UK
