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The Kenya High Commission in the United Kingdom Tuesday issued a warning to Kenyan citizens in light of the recent social unrest sweeping through various UK cities. The advisory urged Kenyans residing in the UK and Northern Ireland to stay vigilant and adhere to the guidelines set by local authorities.
Kenyan nationals, including students, were encouraged to register with the High Commission via the Mission’s website and to contact the embassy if they encountered any emergencies.
This alert follows a tumultuous weekend where mobs threw bricks and flares, clashed with police, looted shops, and vandalized properties. Notably, the unrest targeted at least two hotels housing asylum seekers, highlighting the chaotic situation in several cities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency meeting with ministers and police chiefs on Monday to address the escalating unrest. Following the meeting, Starmer pledged to enhance the criminal justice response to ensure swift sanctions for those involved. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) reported 378 arrests so far, with more expected to face justice.
The violence erupted in Southport on Wednesday last week, following a tragic knife attack that resulted in the deaths of three young girls and left five other children critically injured. Initial false rumors on social media suggested that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker, further inflaming tensions. However, the suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a Welsh national with Rwandan parents, debunking the initial claims.
Despite this clarification, mosques have been targeted by rioters, prompting the government to offer emergency security measures for Islamic places of worship. In Burnley, a hate crime investigation is underway after gravestones in a Muslim cemetery were vandalized with grey paint. Local councillor Afrasiab Anwar condemned the act, calling it an attempt to provoke racial tensions.
Prime Minister Starmer warned rioters that they would face severe consequences for participating in the worst unrest England has seen in 13 years. Interior Minister Yvette Cooper emphasized that there would be a reckoning and highlighted the role of social media in exacerbating the violence. Cooper noted that social media had acted as a “rocket booster” for the unrest.
Starmer reiterated that criminal law applies both online and offline. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Alexander criticized Elon Musk, owner of X, for his comments suggesting that a “civil war” in the UK was inevitable, calling his remarks deeply irresponsible and urging for calm.
Police have attributed the violence to individuals associated with the now-defunct English Defence League, a far-right Islamophobic group with a history of football hooliganism. These rallies have been promoted on far-right social media channels under the slogan “Enough is enough.”
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