Mosques ‘prepare for the worst’ as far-right protesters mobilise
Houses of worship across the UK have been forced to increase security measures amid rising threats from far-right groups spurred on by disinformation around the killings in Southport
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Mosques around the UK have been forced to ramp up security measures and reassure worshippers that safety precautions are being taken following a series of violent anti-Muslim protests led by far-right mobs.
The additional measures are being put in place in the aftermath of a series of stabbings which saw three children killed and 10 people injured on 29 July during a dance class in Southport, north-west England. Misinformation claiming that the suspect was Muslim spread quickly across social media in the hours after the attack and led to violence breaking out in Southport, Hartlepool, Aldershot, and London, where mobs chanting “Save our kids”, “We want our country back” and “Stop the boats” clashed with police.
Much of the disinformation spread rapidly on platforms including X, Facebook and TikTok and was amplified by controversial influencers like Andrew Tate. One claim stated that the attacker was an asylum seeker named ‘‘Ali Al-Shakati’ who had arrived in Britain by boat in 2023. Other posts falsely claimed that the suspect was a “Muslim immigrant”, while Tate said the attacker was an “illegal migrant”.
The disinformation led to shocking scenes in Southport, where far-right rioters attacked a mosque and threw glass bottles and bricks at police just hours after a peaceful vigil honouring the victims of the attack. The following day, on 31 July, chaos also broke out in Hartlepool in the north-east, where several police officers were injured and a police car set on fire, leading to eight arrests. In London, more than 100 people were arrested following violent clashes in Whitehall on the same day.
Following a visit to Southport, Ibrahim Syed, coordinator of Liverpool Region Mosque Network said: “We have been working closely with the local police, but no one is bringing in security guards or anything. Everyone is being extra careful, making sure they don’t congregate in large groups or walk down the street together.”
A spokesperson for the Liverpool Muslim Society — which runs Al-Rahma mosque in Liverpool — told Hyphen that rumours had started to circulate on Thursday that protesters were planning to target more mosques in the area.
The spokesperson added that the police have been alerted, but that mosque staff were “preparing for the worst” and using social media to urge worshippers to “stay vigilant and be careful”.
Muhammad Ali Ahmad, a member of Nasir mosque in Hartlepool, told Hyphen the violence in the town has been “concerning”, especially in the context of rising far-right sentiments in the UK. He said police had warned the mosque about the potential for more unrest.
“Our main gate is always open because we welcome people to come in and have a look at the mosque and ask us any questions, but that’s been closed since yesterday under advice of the police,” said Ahmad.
“We locked the gate and police closed the road outside the mosque and made sure that no one could go past unless they were residents who live there. Thankfully, the mosque was not damaged in any way,” he added.
Volunteers at the mosque have been placed on security duty, and will stay overnight to monitor CCTV cameras and allow access for worshippers.
Ahead of Friday prayers, Ahmad said the new precautions would stay in place. “If someone comes to cause any problems then obviously we’ll call the police but given the situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if the police are already present tomorrow outside the mosque.”
Tahir Selby, an imam at Nasir mosque, told Hyphen that far-right rioters have “misused the situation to forward their own agenda”.
“The majority of people are very nice and kind,” he said. “They like our community, we work well with them and we’ve received a huge amount of support from the local people.”
In less than 24 hours, a fundraiser launched to “show appreciation and love” for Nasir mosque, which donates free meals to local charities and food banks, had reached its £1,000 target and, at the time of reporting, gained over £9,000 in donations.
Ibrahim Syed echoed the sentiment in Southport, saying the violent outbursts are not representative of the region, which he says is “generally welcoming, more so than other areas, with a strong sense of solidarity.”
“The response from the local community has been heartwarming. Visiting Southport today we saw the best of humanity, the best of community,” he said.
On Thursday, prime minister Keir Starmer announced a new “capability” across police forces to respond to the far-right violence seen in towns and cities in England. He described those behind the unrest as a “tiny, mindless minority in our society” and called on the public to give families the space to grieve and authorities time to do their job.
“There will be a time for questions and we will make sure that the victims and families are at the heart of that process,” he said.
Places of worship across the UK have been forced to adopt heightened security measures in recent months, due to a spike in religious hatred, including anti-Semitism. On 31 July, the Community Security Trust, a British charity providing safety, security, and advice to the Jewish community in the UK, reminded groups to stay vigilant in light of ongoing threats.
Sefton council has said that local services will continue to focus on comforting and supporting the victims of the 29 July attack. Council leader Marion Atkinson told Hyphen: “Since the events unfolded this week, the police have provided reassurance in the local community, council staff and councillors have been speaking to residents about their concerns and the chief executive of Sefton Council will be meeting with the imam today to understand what further support will be required.
“The message of division is against everything we stand for in Sefton.”
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