The British capital finds itself on alert as authorities brace for possible unrest after a week of riots across the UK.
London, home to most of the UK's major media companies, is on tenterhooks in anticipation of becoming the next target of the riots that have swept the country over the past week, following the deaths of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 30.
The Metropolitan Police has increased patrols in key areas, while businesses in central London have implemented extra security measures.
diverse It is understood that Sky, the pay-TV operator owned by Comcast, has advised employees to leave work early in order to ensure their safety is prioritised. diverse I contacted the BBC and a few other media organisations to check if they had taken similar measures.
According to BBC reports, police sources have revealed a staggering scale of potential unrest. Forces are preparing to respond to more than 100 potential events and up to 30 counter-protests on Wednesday alone. The gatherings are expected to spread to 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.
The BBC reports that immigration centres and lawyers’ offices are likely to be the main targets of the protesters. In response, police forces across the country are pooling resources and sharing intelligence.
London's West End theatres and film productions remain open from Wednesday afternoon.
The unrest erupted following the deaths of Baby King, 6, Elsie Dott Stancombe, 7, and Alice DaSilva Aguiar, 9, who were victims of multiple stabbings that also left eight other children injured.
Axel Rudakopana, 18, has been charged with the murder of the three children and attempted murder on 10 occasions. His identity was initially withheld due to a UK law that allows minors to remain anonymous in court proceedings. This has led to misinformation spreading online, with false claims about the suspect’s background being spread and far-right sentiment being stirred up.
The unrest spread to other cities and towns across the UK in the days that followed. Newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former attorney general, said: “There is no doubt that those who took part in this violence will face the full force of the law. The police will arrest individuals. Individuals will be held in custody. Charges will follow. Convictions will follow. I guarantee you that you will regret taking part in this chaos.” He also condemned “far-right thuggery”.
Police have implemented Starmer's warning and more than 400 people have been arrested, with sentencing of offenders continuing until Wednesday.
As tensions rise, scenes of possible unrest are emerging across England. Businesses are reported to be closing, shops are closing and there is an increased police presence on the streets.
