04 August 2024 , 17:38
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Malaysia has become the first country to issue a travel warning to its citizens going to the UK - following a week of violent disorder in major cities such as Liverpool, Hull, Manchester and Rotherham
Malaysia has become the first country to issue a travel warning to its citizens visiting the UK, following a week of dangerous and violent protests.
The notice was released via Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said it is "closely monitoring the series of riots currently taking place in several areas of the United Kingdom, following the stabbing incident in Sourthport on July 29". Maylasians were urged to register their presence with the country’s High Commission in London.
The ministry said: "Malaysians residing in or travelling to the United Kingdom are urged to stay away from protest areas, remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and guidance provided by local authorities."
Three young girls were stabbed and killed while attending a dance event in Southport, with eight more children seriously injured. Two adults were also left in a critical condition. False rumours spread online following the attack about the suspect’s background, ethnicity and religion.
Today, there were riots in Middlesbrough and Rotherham. Hundreds of far-right protesters squared up to police shields at Middlesbrough’s Cenotaph, throwing bricks cans and pots at officers. One shouted at them: "It’s our f******* country."
One group in Middlesbrough walked through a residential area smashing the windows of houses and cars. The use of racial slurs have also been heard.
The far right has set fire to a Holiday Inn in Rotherham housing migrants. The prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the rioting this week "far right thuggery".
Following violence across a number of major British cities, the Government has said thugs who engage in criminal disorder on the streets will “pay the price”. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said “criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets”.
Starmer said the police have his “full support” to take action against “extremists” attempting to “sow hate” by intimidating communities as he held emergency talks with ministers over the unrest in parts of England.
Police officers have been attacked and injured and a number of arrests made, with many more promised. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told ministers “the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible”, a Downing Street spokesperson said, which could see courts sitting for 24 hours a day as they did for the 2011 riots, according to one report.
The far right has drawn condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum after disorder in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool came before Saturday’s violence. There was violence on Saturday in towns and cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast which saw several police officers injured. It followed a riot in Sunderland on Friday evening.