LONDON (AP) 鈥 Far-right demonstrations that had been anticipated by police in dozens of locations across Britain failed to materialize Wednesday as peaceful anti-racism protesters instead showed up in force.
Police had prepared for another night of violence at 100 locations following a fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls. Many businesses had boarded up windows and closed down in fear of what lay ahead.
Stand up to Racism and other groups had planned counter-protests in response, but in most places they reclaimed their streets with nothing to oppose.
In London, Bristol, Oxford, Liverpool and Birmingham, large, peaceful crowds gathered outside agencies and law firms specializing in immigration that had been listed by internet chat groups as possible targets of far-right activity.
In resounding choruses they chanted: 鈥淲hose streets? Our streets!鈥
It was a vast change from the chaos that has erupted on streets throughout England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, since July 30.
Cities and towns have been wracked by riots and looting for the past week as angry mobs, encouraged by far-right extremists, clashed with police and counter-demonstrators. The disturbances began after misinformation spread about the that killed three girls in the seaside community of Southport, with social media users the suspect as an immigrant and a Muslim.
Rioters spouting anti-immigrant slogans have attacked mosques and , creating fear in Muslim and immigrant communities. In recent days, reports have emerged of violent counterattacks in some areas.
The head of London鈥檚 Metropolitan Police Service said earlier Wednesday that officers were focused on protecting immigration lawyers and services. In addition to thousands of officers already deployed, about 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London.
鈥淲e鈥檒l protect those people,鈥 Commissioner Mark Rowley said. 鈥淚t is completely unacceptable, regardless of your political views, to intimidate any sector of lawful activity, and we will not let the immigration asylum system be intimidated.鈥
By early late evening, though, with the exception of scattered disturbances and some arrests, trouble had not erupted.
A crowd of immigrant supporters that quickly grew to several hundred in the London neighborhood of North Finchley found themselves largely alone with several dozen police officers.
The crowd chanted 鈥渞efugees welcome鈥 and 鈥淟ondon against racism.鈥 Some held signs saying 鈥淪top the far right,鈥 鈥淢igration is not a crime鈥 and 鈥淔inchley against Fascism.鈥
At one point, an unruly man who had been shouting at the group and pulling his shirt up to show off an eagle tattoo was punched by a protester. He was led away by someone and officers questioned a possible suspect.
Outside an immigration center in the Walthamstow area in east London, an anti-racism protest leader barked 鈥渇ascist scum鈥 to which a crowd of hundreds responded: 鈥渙ff our streets.鈥
In Liverpool, hundreds showed up to defend the Asylum Link immigration center. A grandmother held a placard reading 鈥淣ans Against Nazis鈥 and someone else held a sign saying, 鈥淲hen the poor blame the poor only the rich win.鈥
Prime Minister has described the previous disturbances as 鈥渇ar-right thuggery,鈥 rejecting any suggestion that the riots were about the government鈥檚 immigration policies. He has warned that anyone taking part in the violence would 鈥渇ace the full force of the law.鈥
Police have made more than 400 arrests and are considering using counter-terrorism laws to prosecute some rioters. The government has pledged to prosecute those responsible for the disorder, including those who use social media to incite the violence.
Among the first to be sentenced was Derek Drummond, 58, who received three years in prison after admitting to violent disorder and punching a police officer in the face in Southport on July 30. He was one of three men jailed after their cases were heard Wednesday at Liverpool Crown Court.
鈥淭he three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest,鈥 said Jonathan Egan, the senior district crown prosecutor. 鈥淢any of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time.鈥
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a post on X that the police, city hall and community leaders were working to protect targeted buildings and places of worship.
鈥淚 know the shocking scenes have left many Muslims and minority ethnic communities scared and fearful, so I ask my fellow Londoners to check on their friends and neighbors and show them that care and compassion is what Londoners are all about,鈥 he said.
In Walthamstow, real estate agents shut down storefronts early and told staff to work from home. The Nags Head pub informed customers via social media it wouldn鈥檛 open because of 鈥減otential protest.鈥 The council closed the local library.
Smaller communities were affected as well. Businesses owners in Westcliff-on-Sea, in southern England, boarded up shopfronts.
Saira Hussain, who runs a small architectural practice, described the unrest as "upsetting.''
鈥淚鈥檓 a third-generation British Pakistani,鈥欌 she said. 鈥淚 was born here, studied here, trade here and employ people from this country. I bet I鈥檝e contributed much more to this country than any of these people that are causing trouble.鈥
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Associated Press writers Niko Price and Alix Kroeger in London contributed.
