UK braces for day of unrest amid fears of far-right riots in 30 locations

Thousands of police have been deployed to avert possible attacks on immigration solicitors and refugee centres.

Local government council security officers patrol near the East London Mosque following violent riots across regions of England

Liverpool, United Kingdom – The United Kingdom is bracing for another day of unrest with more far-right race riots reportedly planned in several cities.

Activists monitoring far-right communications fear that on Wednesday, racist mobs could target at least 30 locations. They say solicitors and advice groups which support migrants across the country – as well as immigration centres – could be attacked.

Police are preparing for more violence after several days of unrest which has already seen more than 400 people arrested.

Counter-protesters are organising in an attempt to outnumber the agitators, a tactic that has worked in a small number of cities and towns.

Stand Up to Racism, one of the main organisers, called on Britons to “mobilise to defend immigration lawyers, refugee charities and asylum support centres”.

The group said agitators have listed the sites that they plan to target.

Screenshots of a far-right WhatsApp chat that has circulated among affected communities, which has been seen by Al Jazeera, showed a list of immigration and refugee centres in at least 10 locations. “No more immigration. 8pm. Mask up,” text accompanying the list reads.

Hope not Hate warned that in addition to pre-advertised events, “there is a chance that the current tensions may result in further disturbances occurring spontaneously in towns and cities across the UK”. Muslims, migrants and refugees, and ethnic minority groups are on edge.

Hashem, 30, plans to attend a counterprotest to protect an asylum centre in downtown Liverpool from “thugs”.

Thousands of police have been deployed to avert possible attacks on immigration solicitors and refugee centres.

Local government council security officers patrol near the East London Mosque, following a weekend of violent protests across regions of England, in London, Britain August 5, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville — Local government council security officers patrol near the East London Mosque following violent riots across regions

Liverpool, United Kingdom – The United Kingdom is bracing for another day of unrest with more far-right race riots reportedly planned in several cities.

Counter-protesters are organising in an attempt to outnumber the agitators, a tactic that has worked in a small number of cities and towns.

Stand Up to Racism, one of the main organisers, called on Britons to “mobilise to defend immigration lawyers, refugee charities and asylum support centres”.

The group said agitators have listed the sites that they plan to target.

Muslims, migrants and refugees, and ethnic minority groups are on edge.

Hashem, 30, plans to attend a counterprotest to protect an asylum centre in downtown Liverpool from “thugs”.

“People are being attacked in their own country and this is unacceptable,” said Hashem, who withheld his surname, fearing a far-right backlash.

“We were born and raised here and we will not be cornered by fascists … we are going to show that this behaviour is not welcomed here,” he told Al Jazeera.

Muslims in the northern city, as in dozens of others, are reeling from the worst bout of violent xenophobia in years.