Is the country safe to travel to as protests spread?
Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside on Aug. 4, 2024 in Rotherham, U.K.
Christopher Furlong | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Five countries have now issued travel and safety warnings to their citizens living or visiting the U.K. as riots and street disorder continue to plague the country.
The United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia have all warned their citizens visiting or living in the U.K. that parts of the country currently present serious safety risks as unrest, initially sparked by anti-immigration protests, continues to spread throughout England and Northern Ireland.
A number of towns and cities — including the tourist hubs of Liverpool and Manchester — have seen violent disorder on the streets in the last week, with far-right groups clashing with police and rival demonstrators.
Unrest continued in parts of the U.K. on Monday night, with Belfast in Northern Ireland seeing further disorder, as well as the northern town of Darlington and Plymouth on the south coast. Since the rioting began a week ago Tuesday, 378 arrests have been made, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said Monday.
Other instances of disorder have also been seen across the country, from towns including Rotherham and Middlesbrough to larger cities such as Bristol, Leeds and Hull. Tourist hotspot London has not seen any significant disturbances.
Smoke billows from a fire started by protesters as riot police stand guard after disturbances near the Southport Islamic Society Mosque in Southport, northwest England, on July 30, 2024, a day after a deadly child knife attack.
Justin Tallis | Afp | Getty Images
The UAE’s foreign ministry on Monday urged its citizens in the U.K. “to exercise the highest level of caution, and take the necessary precautions, in light of the unstable security situation in various cities across the U.K.” The ministry also warned UAE nationals against visiting areas witnessing riots and protests, and to avoid crowded areas.
Australia issued a travel advisory Monday warning its citizens to “avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence” while Malaysia has told its nationals not to travel to the U.K.
Nigeria stated that the riots “have assumed a violent and disorderly outlook” and “may spread across the country.” It warned its citizens “to be extra vigilant, stay away from protests areas and avoid large gatherings.”
Anti-immigration protesters are seen during riots outside of the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, which was believed to be used as an asylum hotel, on August 4, 2024 in Rotherham, United Kingdom.
Christopher Furlong | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Riots and street violence started last week after false claims spread online that a mass stabbing last Monday, in which three young girls were killed, had been carried out by a Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived in the U.K. by boat.
Disturbances and disorder erupted in a number of towns and cities in…
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