Far-right riots broke out in Sunderland's city centre, part of a series of anti-immigrant protests following the tragic killing of three children at a dance class earlier this week.
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron reported that on Friday, officers encountered “serious and sustained levels of violence” as several hundred rioters rampaged through the city. The mob attacked police, set fire to a car, and torched a building adjacent to a police office.
Arrests and Injuries
Eight individuals were arrested during the “utterly deplorable” disturbances, according to Barron. Three officers required hospital treatment, with two still hospitalized as of early Saturday.
Social Media Images
Photos circulating on social media depicted masked youths hurling bricks and igniting fireworks and flares. Barron condemned the “shocking scenes,” declaring that such “disorder, violence, and damage” are “completely unacceptable” and will not be tolerated.
Ongoing Investigation
A thorough investigation is underway to identify others involved in the unrest, Barron added.
Context of the Violence
The Sunderland riots followed two nights of unrest in various English towns and cities, sparked by the stabbing deaths of three young children—Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9; Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7; and Bebe King, 6—at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance class in Southport.
Misinformation and Backlash
Online misinformation initially blamed the killings on a Muslim immigrant. However, a judge later identified the alleged perpetrator as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a Christian born in the UK to Rwandan parents. Police have clarified that the case is not being treated as terror-related, though a motive has not yet been disclosed. Photo by Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Wikimedia commons.