Riots erupted across England and Northern Ireland following a knife attack on a children’s dance class in Southport that resulted in three girls’ deaths.
Misinformation, claiming the attacker was an asylum seeker—when he was actually British—has fuelled the anti-immigrant violence.
Over the past week, the riots have affected over 15 towns and cities, with incidents of looting, arson, and attacks on mosques.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first major domestic crisis, has condemned the violence and promised a rigorous crackdown, with nearly 400 arrests already made.
Despite facing criticism and a strained justice system, Starmer’s administration is focusing on restoring order and the longer-term challenge of healing community divisions exacerbated by the violence.