Extremists attacked a mosque in Britain
An unknown person attacked children at a dance class in Southampton, England, on Monday, killing three of them and injuring several others. The attacker is said to have been carried out by the 17-year-old son of a family who fled the Ugandan genocide and took refuge in Britain. After the incident, riots broke out in the city, hundreds of far-right extremists attacked the Islamic Society mosque.
Three children were killed and several others were injured when an unknown person attacked children at a dance class in the British city of Southampton on Monday. According to Sky News, there were clashes with the police near the city mosque.
According to the TV channel, protesters set fire to a police van and attacked law enforcement officers. At the same time, the protesters broke up pieces of asphalt to throw at the police. Bottles and firecrackers were also thrown at law enforcement officials. Several policemen were injured, one of them had a broken nose.
According to Merseyside County Police, the riots were caused by supporters of the far-right English Defense League, which has repeatedly opposed the "Islamization of Great Britain" in the past. According to various estimates, about 200 people gathered. A Southport mosque appears to have been chosen as the meeting place following unconfirmed reports on social media about the attacker's religion.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously warned that the Southport tragedy should not be used to stir up controversy and spread misinformation.
The clash with police came as hundreds of people gathered in the city center near the site of the massacre to commemorate the victims of the tragedy. People brought flowers, balloons and soft toys. Many came with children. Prime Minister Key Starmer also visited the site of the attack earlier.
For information, on Monday, a 17-year-old boy from Cardiff was attacked during a group yoga and dance class organized for children by American pop singer Taylor Swift. He has been detained and is being questioned, but authorities have not released his name or other details.
According to The Times, a friend of the suspect's parents said he came from a "good family" who fled the Rwandan genocide and sought asylum in Britain. The alleged attacker was himself born in the kingdom.
As a result of his attack, three girls, six, seven and nine years old, became victims. Five children were reported to be in critical condition on Tuesday. Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where the victims were taken, later said the two children were in a stable, critical condition in intensive care.
Meanwhile, Swift's creative fans have raised more than £250,000 ($326,000) for the Alder Hey hospital charity.
