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Artists Condemn UK Riots And Anti-Muslim Hate Speech Amidst Worst Unrest Since 2011
The UK has witnessed its worst rioting since 2011, with violent clashes erupting in the aftermath of a mass stabbing that killed three young girls during a Taylor Swiftthemed event in Southport, near Liverpool. The anti-immigration protests, fueled by false rumors on social media, have been widely condemned by artists such as Massive Attack, Kneecap, Nova Twins, and Nadine Shah.
Rioters threw bricks and chanted anti-Islamic slurs, with skirmishes breaking out in cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and Belfast in Northern Ireland. Several mosques, including ones in Sunderland and Southport, have been attacked, leading to hundreds of Islamic centers upping their security amid safety fears.
The protests were fueled by false rumors on social media about the background of British-born 17-year-old suspect Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, who is accused of killing six, seven, and nine-year-old girls, and injuring another 10 people in the knife attack. The false claim, promoted by EDL founder Tommy Robinson, stated that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who recently arrived in the UK by boat, when in fact he was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
The far-right has taken advantage of the stabbing attack to tap into concerns about the scale of immigration in the UK. Anti-fascist demonstrators have held counter-rallies in many cities, including Leeds, where they shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”, as the far-right protesters chanted, “You’re not English any more”.
BJ Harrington of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said in a statement on Sunday that 147 people have been arrested since last night in connection with violence and that he expects the number to rise in the coming days.
In response to the riots, Massive Attack posted a statement on X written by the Runnymede Trust, a race equality think tank: “This violent racism has long been simmering under the surface. What is happening is the direct result of years of normalised racism and Islamophobia, enabled by politicians and the British media. As far-right mobs threaten mosques, intimidate and harass people, and throw Nazi salutes, we offer our utmost solidarity to people of colour, and Muslim communities in particular.”
The statement also pointed out that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper “fail to centre Muslim people, or call out racism for what it is”, adding: “What we are seeing unfold is more than ‘thuggery’, it is violent racism.”
“This is an inevitable outcome of years of state-sponsored Islamophobia and racism, where Muslims, people of colour, and migrants are scapegoated as a distraction from decades of economic hardship and political failings.”
The Runnymede Trust demanded that political leadership “recognises that challenging the far right is not simply a question of tackling online misinformation, or increased police surveillance. Instead, we urgently need our leaders to challenge the conditions that embolden the far right. These scenes should be unimaginable in 2024.”
West Belfast rappers Kneecap responded to the recent anti-immigration demonstration in Belfast by posting a quote by civil rights activist Bernadette Devlin, captioning the photo: “And if you know your history…. smash all fascists”.
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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Two students were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, police said.
Authorities have detained a person of interest in his 20s, who is now cooperating with investigators.
The attack occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT) at the Holley Engineering Building on the eastern end of the university campus.
Police said the identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all those affected, including the deceased, were students.
In a statement on Sunday, Paxson said parts of the campus remained restricted as police continued investigations.
She added that around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to students.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven of the injured students were in stable condition, one was critical, and another had been discharged.
The mayor, who visited victims and their families in hospital, described their courage as “overwhelming” and confirmed that the shelter-in-place order issued earlier had been lifted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry early Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.
Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that officers were no longer searching for additional suspects and were working closely with prosecutors to collect evidence.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed sympathy for the families of the two deceased students and wished a speedy recovery for the nine injured.
The shooting brings the number of mass shootings in the United States in 2025 to 389, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents with four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as the investigation continues, while a vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening to support the Brown University community.
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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Saturday left 15 people dead, including a child aged 10, during a Hanukkah celebration. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.
The father died at the scene, while the son remains in critical condition.
The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder; six guns and two improvised devices were recovered from the site.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “an act of pure evil”, saying it deliberately targeted the Jewish community, and promised full resources to support the investigation and combat antisemitism.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said quick response, informed by last year’s Bondi stabbing, helped save lives.
328 officers have been deployed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community, while two properties in western Sydney were searched overnight.
Among the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Eyewitnesses described the chaos, with some saying the gunfire felt like it lasted “an eternity.”
Authorities continue to investigate the attack as Australians reel from the tragedy.
News
Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
President Donald Trump has pledged a “very serious retaliation” after an ambush in central Syria on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter, an attack the United States blames on the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
In a statement and social‑media post, Trump described the assault near Palmyra—a region still volatile and not fully controlled by the Syrian government—as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria.”
He mourned the three victims as “great American patriots” and confirmed that three other U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack are recovering.
Speaking from the White House before departing for a public event, the president said he expected a firm U.S. response, noting that there will be “very serious retaliation” against ISIS and any group that targets American forces.
Trump noted that Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose government has been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter‑terrorism operations, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.
The ambush occurred as U.S. troops were engaged in a counter‑terrorism mission alongside Syrian partners; the suspected attacker was killed by coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said.
The identities and units of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification.
Defense officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, echoed Trump’s stance, issuing stark warnings that the U.S. will pursue individuals or groups that target Americans.
The U.S. maintains a force of around 900 troops in Syria as part of ongoing operations against ISIS remnants, despite the group’s loss of territorial control years earlier.
The attack is the first fatal incident involving U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, highlighting persistent security challenges and raising questions about the future scope of U.S. military engagement in the region.
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News3 days agoTrump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
