UK riots halted by police, shows of unity from communities

Threats of large far-right gatherings fail to materialise, but officials remain on alert

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A heavy security presence, rapid arrests and displays of unity by people across Britain prevented a repeat of widespread rioting involving racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants, officials said on Aug 8, adding that they remained on alert.

After police deployed in force and thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets on the evening of Aug 7, threats of widespread gatherings by far-right antiimmigration groups did not materialise.

But the government said it was still cautious after days of riots triggered by false online posts wrongly identifying the suspected killer of three young girls in a July 29 knife attack in Southport, north-west England, as an Islamist migrant.

More than 400 people have been arrested across the country, and Britain's most senior police officer, London Commissioner Mark Rowley, said more had been arrested on Aug 8 morning, including many with criminal backgrounds.

For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, it is the first major test of his premiership since winning a July 4 election in which the previous Conservative government highlighted immigration as a major issue.