From Aldershot to Southport, riots broke out in English cities and cities this summer season. Mosques, properties, outlets and automobiles have been attacked. A library was looted. Drivers have been stopped and interrogated about their ethnicity, law enforcement officials have been attacked. In a matter of days, nevertheless, many rioters discovered themselves in court docket and the violence stopped abruptly.
Josh Halliday was in court docket to listen to what most of the rioters, together with kids, stated about why that they had precipitated such havoc. He explains to Helen Pidd how the Guardian’s information workforce tracked the court docket filings of 500 rioters to glean data that helped construct an image of the individuals who terrified communities.
He displays on how counter-protesters who created an “nearly carnivalesque ambiance” in some areas, could have helped to quell the violence. And he considers what classes the federal government and police would possibly take away. Keir Starmer has referred to as the rioters “racist thugs”, however with the underlying anger and battle over immigration points unresolved, may such violence occur once more?
{Photograph}: Christopher Furlong/Getty Photos
Assist The Guardian
The Guardian is editorially unbiased.
And we wish to preserve our journalism open and accessible to all.
However we more and more want our readers to fund our work.
Supply hyperlink