British Riots Lead to Over 1,000 Arrests Amid Misinformation-Fueled Unrest

British authorities have arrested over 1,000 people following days of rioting spurred by misinformation related to a fatal attack falsely attributed to an Islamist migrant. The riots involved violence, arson, looting, and racist attacks. Swift judicial action has led to charges and jail sentences for many involved.

British authorities have arrested more than 1,000 people following days of rioting that involved violence, arson, looting, and racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants, according to a national policing body on Tuesday. The unrest started after the killings of three young girls in Southport on July 29 were wrongly blamed on an Islamist migrant due to online misinformation.

Violence erupted in cities across England and Northern Ireland. However, the number of incidents has decreased since last week following intensified efforts to identify and arrest those involved. Many have already been jailed, some receiving lengthy sentences.

The National Police Chiefs' Council reported that 1,024 individuals have been arrested and 575 charged across the UK. The arrested include a 69-year-old accused of vandalism in Liverpool and an 11-year-old boy in Belfast. In another alarming incident, a 13-year-old girl pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court after being caught on July 31 punching and kicking the entrance to a hotel for asylum seekers.

The last widespread rioting in Britain occurred in 2011, triggered by the fatal police shooting of a Black man, leading to several days of street violence. Rapid and stringent judicial actions were credited with quelling the unrest, which saw around 4,000 arrests over several weeks.

(With inputs from agencies.)