UK Muslims fear going to mosques amid surge in Islamophobic attacks

Amid a surge in far-right violence across the UK, Muslims are fearful of going to mosques. Islamophobic attacks have increased following the spread of rumours that the perpetrator of the Southport stabbing attacks was a Muslim.

A UK news outlet quoted a watchdog that monitors anti-Islamic organisations in the country, stating that Islamophobic attacks have surged in the UK since October 7 after Hamas' attack on Israel and the latter's war on Gaza.

Violent protests erupted in England and Northern Ireland after three girls aged 6, 7, and 9 were killed, and eight other children and two adults were injured in a stabbing attack on July 29 during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga session for children in Southport.

Rumours circulated on social media that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant. However, the assailant was identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a Christian born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff.

Some social media accounts falsely named the accused "Ali al-Shakati" to incite hatred against the Muslim community and immigrants in Britain.

The false claims spread rapidly on the microblogging platform X and were shared widely by prominent accounts to fuel racist propaganda against minorities.

Anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson, with a following of over 8750,000 on X, was instrumental in disseminating misinformation about the attacker.

“There is a heightened level of fear in the Muslim community and we've had individuals say they are very scared about going to their mosques or Islamic centres for fear of being attacked, and many mosques have cancelled events,” Iman Atta, director of Tell Mama (Measuring anti-Muslim Attacks).

Chief Constable BJ Harrington stated that police have arrested 147 people since Saturday night, with the number expected to rise.

Beyond targeting Muslims, the rioters attacked individuals from other minority communities, including those of Asian and Middle Eastern heritage. They also assaulted the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, which houses asylum seekers.

The crowd chanted "Get them out," hurled objects at the building and attempted to set the hotel on fire.

British Prime Minister condemned the violence as "far-right thuggery" and assured that the perpetrators would face consequences.

He maintained that people in the UK "have a right to be safe" and yet we've seen "Muslim communities targeted... Nazi salutes in the street".

"I won't shy away from calling it what it is - far-right thuggery," he added.

The UK Home Secretary announced a new security plan to protect mosques from violent attacks, allowing them to request immediate support from security personnel while threatened by riots.