Travel alert for Australians visiting UK amid ongoing riots after Southport stabbing attack

by Admin
August 6, 2024

In short:

Smart Traveller has issued a travel alert to Australians in the UK warning them to avoid areas where protests are occurring.

Rioting has broken out in cities across the UK amid online misinformation in the wake of the Southport stabbing which killed three young girls.

What’s next?

Several other countries have issued their own alerts as the British government sets up a “standing army” of specialist police to deal with the violence.

Australians have been urged to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to the United Kingdom due to potential violence stemming from ongoing protests and rioting.

Violence broke out in cities across the nation over the past week following a stabbing attack at a Southport dance class which left three girls dead and more injured.

Three children aged six, seven and nine were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop taking place during England’s summer school holidays.

At least six other children and two adults were hospitalised following the incident. A 17-year-old boy has since been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.

Online misinformation in the wake of the attack claimed the suspect was Muslim and an asylum seeker, setting off a string of suspected far-right groups launching attacks on immigrant communities.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has since announced a “standing army” of specialist police would be set up to deal with the rioting and the hundreds of arrests so far.

The latest update to the Australian federal government’s Smart Traveller website advised visitors to “avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence”.

“Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent, and can evolve into riots,” the website said.

Australians travelling in the UK should “avoid all protests”, “monitor the media for the latest information” and “follow instructions of local authorities” to stay safe.

The overall threat level for the UK has not been increased.

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Former chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service NW England, Nazir Afzal, told the ABC’s Radio National the violence was “very troubling”.

“There’s been a substantial amount of fear in large parts of the United Kingdom,” he said.

“I don’t want to exaggerate it, it’s hundreds of people and not thousands of people that are engaged in these activities.

“It’s not protest, it’s criminality masquerading as protest.

“Yes, they’ve tried to burn down a couple of hotels that are housing asylum seekers, they’ve also tried to attack a mosque. But they’ve also been looting shoe shops, cake shops, vape shops, mobile phone shops, et cetera.

“The reality is that what we’re dealing with is people using [an excuse] to cause as much havoc as they can.”

Other countries, including Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia, have also issued their own travel alerts for the UK.

The Indonesian embassy in London issued an appeal to Indonesians in the UK at the weekend.

“Consider the urgency and increase vigilance [if] you have to travel or do activities outside the home,” they said on social media.

“Avoid large crowds and places that have the potential to become gathering places for masses or groups of demonstrators.”

A similar travel alert by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted there was “an increased risk of violence and disorder”.

“The violence has assumed dangerous proportions as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure,” they said in a statement.

“Avoid political processions and protests, rallies or marches … Be vigilant and self-aware at all times.”