From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Sellenger Morris. It's Tuesday, August 6th. For more than a week, riots have spread across the United Kingdom. Get them out! Get them out! Rioters are targeting Muslims and immigrants. And in their wake, the attackers have set buildings and vehicles on fire and left communities in a state of fear. But how did a stabbing rampage in a seaside English town spark what have become the worst riots in the UK in 13 years? Today, world editor Nick Ralston on the real time violence and terror that have resulted from a devastating misinformation campaign, and how the far right has been exploiting a horrific crime in order to advance its agenda. So, Nick, it's a little over a week since this horrific incident in the UK, three girls aged just six, seven and nine were murdered, as we know, and ten others were injured when a teenage boy attacked them in a dance hall in Southport, which is near Liverpool. But can you walk us through what's happened since then? Because we know that violent riots have been cropping up across the UK. So what is the latest on this?

From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Sellenger Morris. It's Tuesday, August 6th. For more than a week, riots have spread across the United Kingdom. Get them out! Get them out! Rioters are targeting Muslims and immigrants. And in their wake, the attackers have set buildings and vehicles on fire and left communities in a state of fear. But how did a stabbing rampage in a seaside English town spark what have become the worst riots in the UK in 13 years? Today, world editor Nick Ralston on the real time violence and terror that have resulted from a devastating misinformation campaign, and how the far right has been exploiting a horrific crime in order to advance its agenda. So, Nick, it's a little over a week since this horrific incident in the UK, three girls aged just six, seven and nine were murdered, as we know, and ten others were injured when a teenage boy attacked them in a dance hall in Southport, which is near Liverpool. But can you walk us through what's happened since then? Because we know that violent riots have been cropping up across the UK. So what is the latest on this?

Yeah, that's right, it was only sort of hours after that horrific attack at a child's dance school where riots did start to spread. Firstly in in Southport, where the dance school was located and then right across England.

Yeah, that's right, it was only sort of hours after that horrific attack at a child's dance school where riots did start to spread. Firstly in in Southport, where the dance school was located and then right across England.

It started like any normal day in the school holidays, but ended in horror and tragedy.

It started like any normal day in the school holidays, but ended in horror and tragedy.

It is hard to think of anything more innocent than a Taylor Swift dance class at a summer holiday club for 6 to 11 year.

It is hard to think of anything more innocent than a Taylor Swift dance class at a summer holiday club for 6 to 11 year.

Olds, and as people came to terms with the horrific events, disinformation spread and tensions erupted onto the streets.

Olds, and as people came to terms with the horrific events, disinformation spread and tensions erupted onto the streets.

They've been clashing now violently, with police throwing objects at the overnight.

They've been clashing now violently, with police throwing objects at the overnight.

British riders have set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in the town of Rotherham in England's north. The scenes were brutal. Police have been injured. The violence over the.

British riders have set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in the town of Rotherham in England's north. The scenes were brutal. Police have been injured. The violence over the.

Last few days has.

Last few days has.

Seen a lorry torched, mosques attacked. The riots did start last week in Southport. This was hours after a peaceful vigil where the three girls were killed.

Seen a lorry torched, mosques attacked. The riots did start last week in Southport. This was hours after a peaceful vigil where the three girls were killed.

Carly, who is the MP for Southport.

Carly, who is the MP for Southport.

We then had hundreds of people descending on the town, descending on Southport from outside of the area intent on causing trouble.

We then had hundreds of people descending on the town, descending on Southport from outside of the area intent on causing trouble.

Most of the group that appeared in Southport last week seemed to be supporters of the far right English Defence League, and what is sort of being reported now is that much of what has occurred in England over the last week has been fuelled by false online rumours about who carried out this attack.

Most of the group that appeared in Southport last week seemed to be supporters of the far right English Defence League, and what is sort of being reported now is that much of what has occurred in England over the last week has been fuelled by false online rumours about who carried out this attack.

And so tell us a bit about this.

And so tell us a bit about this.

Misinformation, because like you said, this is at the heart of what's happened with these riots. And we know that initially there was a name being spread across the internet as the person who was responsible for this stabbing of these girls, but it was the wrong name. So. So tell us about this.

Misinformation, because like you said, this is at the heart of what's happened with these riots. And we know that initially there was a name being spread across the internet as the person who was responsible for this stabbing of these girls, but it was the wrong name. So. So tell us about this.

Yeah. So the name Ali Al-sharqawi was being spread first on X, formerly known as Twitter, as the, as a muslim asylum seeker who was supposedly responsible. But what's sort of emerged since then is that name. And that person never actually exists. It was an obscure Russian linked fake news outlet known as channel three now. Who first came forward and sort of well, I guess helped propagate the falsehood. Channel three now masquerades as a legitimate American news outlet, but acts as an aggregator for real news stories. So if you log on, you'll see sort of latest of what's happening around with the world, along with some misinformation that is being spread and what has sort of started out as a story on a sort of reasonably unknown website has just spread across the internet. The claim has been picked up by some far right figures in the UK. This includes Tommy Robinson, who is the founder of the English Defence League, which we mentioned earlier, who also played a major role in instigating those riots in Southport and then around England. He's got a big following. Tommy Robinson, he's a far right anti-Islam campaigner, was also picked up by Andrew Tate, who has his own troubles in the past. He's got a large online presence and online following, and his posts about Al Zarqawi garnered millions of views and hundreds and thousands of likes.

Yeah. So the name Ali Al-sharqawi was being spread first on X, formerly known as Twitter, as the, as a muslim asylum seeker who was supposedly responsible. But what's sort of emerged since then is that name. And that person never actually exists. It was an obscure Russian linked fake news outlet known as channel three now. Who first came forward and sort of well, I guess helped propagate the falsehood. Channel three now masquerades as a legitimate American news outlet, but acts as an aggregator for real news stories. So if you log on, you'll see sort of latest of what's happening around with the world, along with some misinformation that is being spread and what has sort of started out as a story on a sort of reasonably unknown website has just spread across the internet. The claim has been picked up by some far right figures in the UK. This includes Tommy Robinson, who is the founder of the English Defence League, which we mentioned earlier, who also played a major role in instigating those riots in Southport and then around England. He's got a big following. Tommy Robinson, he's a far right anti-Islam campaigner, was also picked up by Andrew Tate, who has his own troubles in the past. He's got a large online presence and online following, and his posts about Al Zarqawi garnered millions of views and hundreds and thousands of likes.

And so this spread.

And so this spread.

Of misinformation, it was really massive, wasn't.

Of misinformation, it was really massive, wasn't.

It? Yeah, I think only within sort of 24 hours of the incident, a professor at the Middle Eastern Studies in Doha tracked that there had been at least 27 million impressions for posts stating or speculating that the attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

It? Yeah, I think only within sort of 24 hours of the incident, a professor at the Middle Eastern Studies in Doha tracked that there had been at least 27 million impressions for posts stating or speculating that the attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

So really we are talking about an attempt here, aren't we, by members of the far right in the UK to really exploit this tragic incident by pushing an anti-immigrant agenda, when there's actually no evidence that the perpetrator of the stabbings was an immigrant? Is that right?

So really we are talking about an attempt here, aren't we, by members of the far right in the UK to really exploit this tragic incident by pushing an anti-immigrant agenda, when there's actually no evidence that the perpetrator of the stabbings was an immigrant? Is that right?

That's right. So the newly elected British prime minister, Keir Starmer, certainly thinks so. He's come out and said as far as the far right is concerned that this is coordinated and this is deliberate.

That's right. So the newly elected British prime minister, Keir Starmer, certainly thinks so. He's come out and said as far as the far right is concerned that this is coordinated and this is deliberate.

This is not protest, it is organised violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.

This is not protest, it is organised violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.

He says that people in this country have a right to be safe. And yet we have seen Muslim communities targeted and attacks on mosques.

He says that people in this country have a right to be safe. And yet we have seen Muslim communities targeted and attacks on mosques.

Other minority communities singled out Nazi salutes in the street. So no, I won't shy away from calling it what it is far right thuggery.

Other minority communities singled out Nazi salutes in the street. So no, I won't shy away from calling it what it is far right thuggery.

Police have said many of the actions are being organized online by these far right groups who are mobilizing, and we're hearing lots of chants at these riots. Sort of. Enough is enough. Save our kids and stop the boats.

Police have said many of the actions are being organized online by these far right groups who are mobilizing, and we're hearing lots of chants at these riots. Sort of. Enough is enough. Save our kids and stop the boats.

The families of those victims have not been given a second thought by these thugs. They've been used sickeningly to promote the extreme agenda of those who want to cause trouble and division in our community. This sort of.

The families of those victims have not been given a second thought by these thugs. They've been used sickeningly to promote the extreme agenda of those who want to cause trouble and division in our community. This sort of.

Tapping into a narrative that's been amplified by right wing media outlets and commentators about the scale of immigration in the UK, and in particular, migrants and refugees arriving in small boats from France across the English Channel, which was sort of a very hot election issue for the previous for Rishi Sunak and his government, who looked to try and find solutions. They had the Rwandan solution, which sort of borrowed from Australia's offshore processing and became sort of a political hot potato for the UK government in the lead up to to the election earlier this year.

Tapping into a narrative that's been amplified by right wing media outlets and commentators about the scale of immigration in the UK, and in particular, migrants and refugees arriving in small boats from France across the English Channel, which was sort of a very hot election issue for the previous for Rishi Sunak and his government, who looked to try and find solutions. They had the Rwandan solution, which sort of borrowed from Australia's offshore processing and became sort of a political hot potato for the UK government in the lead up to to the election earlier this year.

It was quite unusual, wasn't it, here that police were forced to actually say who the suspect is to actually name this person, even though they're under 18. And normally the laws in the UK say that you can't actually publicly name someone before before the legal proceedings begin. Is that right? Yeah.

It was quite unusual, wasn't it, here that police were forced to actually say who the suspect is to actually name this person, even though they're under 18. And normally the laws in the UK say that you can't actually publicly name someone before before the legal proceedings begin. Is that right? Yeah.

That's right. So the laws in the UK are very similar to what we have here in Australia, where a juvenile in court proceedings cannot be named. But the judge decided in this case, given the amount of misinformation that was spreading online and through the community, that he should allow for the alleged perpetrators name to be released. It's Axel Cabana, uh, who is 17. He is due to turn 18 very shortly, which was also part of the reason as to why the judge allowed for him to be named. So he's now being charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article. He was born in Wales. He was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents in 2006, but sort of doesn't have any of the background that was sort of being spread online in the hours after the attack.

That's right. So the laws in the UK are very similar to what we have here in Australia, where a juvenile in court proceedings cannot be named. But the judge decided in this case, given the amount of misinformation that was spreading online and through the community, that he should allow for the alleged perpetrators name to be released. It's Axel Cabana, uh, who is 17. He is due to turn 18 very shortly, which was also part of the reason as to why the judge allowed for him to be named. So he's now being charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article. He was born in Wales. He was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents in 2006, but sort of doesn't have any of the background that was sort of being spread online in the hours after the attack.

We'll be back in a minute.

We'll be back in a minute.

And so I think you've touched.

And so I think you've touched.

On this a little bit, but I really wanted to delve a bit deeper into why has a fake name of a muslim teenager been used like this? I mean, what are the motivations, especially given that so much of the misinformation actually came from Russian linked accounts on social media? So can you connect the dots here for us?

On this a little bit, but I really wanted to delve a bit deeper into why has a fake name of a muslim teenager been used like this? I mean, what are the motivations, especially given that so much of the misinformation actually came from Russian linked accounts on social media? So can you connect the dots here for us?

Yeah. Of course. Well, it obviously all plays into anti-immigration sentiment on in terms of the the Russian linked website, um, while sort of yet to be established, if there is any direct connection with the Kremlin, the sort of Russian misinformation or disinformation sort of exists as a way to try and sow seeds of unrest in in Western countries. The best example of this being Russia's role in the 2016 US election, where troll factories were used to spread anti-immigration rhetoric online. But look, anti-immigration rhetoric has existed in the UK for decades. We saw Nigel Farage be elected to UK Parliament on his eighth attempt last month, and he's also been blamed for encouraging, indirectly, anti-immigration sentiment. So someone like Farage is a very popular figure in the UK and has been stoking these sorts of claims for a long time. I mean.

Yeah. Of course. Well, it obviously all plays into anti-immigration sentiment on in terms of the the Russian linked website, um, while sort of yet to be established, if there is any direct connection with the Kremlin, the sort of Russian misinformation or disinformation sort of exists as a way to try and sow seeds of unrest in in Western countries. The best example of this being Russia's role in the 2016 US election, where troll factories were used to spread anti-immigration rhetoric online. But look, anti-immigration rhetoric has existed in the UK for decades. We saw Nigel Farage be elected to UK Parliament on his eighth attempt last month, and he's also been blamed for encouraging, indirectly, anti-immigration sentiment. So someone like Farage is a very popular figure in the UK and has been stoking these sorts of claims for a long time. I mean.

If anything, perhaps it's a bit convenient for him if that's a word that can be used because he is, of course, is one of the co-authors of Brexit back in the day. So he has long had an anti-immigration sentiment.

If anything, perhaps it's a bit convenient for him if that's a word that can be used because he is, of course, is one of the co-authors of Brexit back in the day. So he has long had an anti-immigration sentiment.

Yeah. That's correct. So I mean, I think in 2016, when Brexit succeeded, I think a lot of the commentary around it now is that it was it was driven largely by a nationalism movement. And I think also, you know, there has been other demonstrations or riots occur in the UK, definitely not of this level, but there has been riots outside mosques. There has been protests outside hotels where the asylum seekers had been staying, but definitely not to that level and not, I guess, in such a what appears to be some sort of ordered chaos. It seems like there's a different English city or town each night where there's a violence is breaking out. So we did see big riots back in London in 2011, the Tottenham riots. That was a totally different issue. But there is also, I guess, a history of civil unrest in London When or in England, when these when these things occur.

Yeah. That's correct. So I mean, I think in 2016, when Brexit succeeded, I think a lot of the commentary around it now is that it was it was driven largely by a nationalism movement. And I think also, you know, there has been other demonstrations or riots occur in the UK, definitely not of this level, but there has been riots outside mosques. There has been protests outside hotels where the asylum seekers had been staying, but definitely not to that level and not, I guess, in such a what appears to be some sort of ordered chaos. It seems like there's a different English city or town each night where there's a violence is breaking out. So we did see big riots back in London in 2011, the Tottenham riots. That was a totally different issue. But there is also, I guess, a history of civil unrest in London When or in England, when these when these things occur.

Mhm.

Mhm.

It certainly seems to have been taken, many people not by surprise, obviously shocked because I noticed that one man, uh, in Southport, which is of course, the town where those three young girls were murdered. He was so surprised that it happened in that small town. He said, it's like something from America, not like sunny Southport. So obviously you've mentioned there is a history of of rioting and anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.K. for sure. But do you think that, you know, given that there is a rise in far right governments beyond the U.K., you know, around the world and other parts? Is this, I guess, latest crime, a part of that, just a part of the rise in the far right across the globe?

It certainly seems to have been taken, many people not by surprise, obviously shocked because I noticed that one man, uh, in Southport, which is of course, the town where those three young girls were murdered. He was so surprised that it happened in that small town. He said, it's like something from America, not like sunny Southport. So obviously you've mentioned there is a history of of rioting and anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.K. for sure. But do you think that, you know, given that there is a rise in far right governments beyond the U.K., you know, around the world and other parts? Is this, I guess, latest crime, a part of that, just a part of the rise in the far right across the globe?

I think it comes back to sort of, uh, leaders trying to call for calm in situations like this in Australia after Port Arthur, where, you know, John Howard stared down a number of firearm groups and brought through reforms in relation to guns. It's probably fair to say we don't necessarily see as much of that these days. Uh, Nigel Farage, as we mentioned, was elected into Parliament for the first time only in July. He posted a one minute video on X questioning if the police said the attack was not terror related. were actually telling the truth.

I think it comes back to sort of, uh, leaders trying to call for calm in situations like this in Australia after Port Arthur, where, you know, John Howard stared down a number of firearm groups and brought through reforms in relation to guns. It's probably fair to say we don't necessarily see as much of that these days. Uh, Nigel Farage, as we mentioned, was elected into Parliament for the first time only in July. He posted a one minute video on X questioning if the police said the attack was not terror related. were actually telling the truth.

Incident. I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. I don't know the answer to that, but I think it is a fair and legitimate question. What I do know is something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country.

Incident. I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. I don't know the answer to that, but I think it is a fair and legitimate question. What I do know is something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country.

He's long sought to link many of the problems that Britain faces, such as health and housing on the big increases in the country's population relating to migration. I mean, it's interesting.

He's long sought to link many of the problems that Britain faces, such as health and housing on the big increases in the country's population relating to migration. I mean, it's interesting.

It makes you wonder where the country will go from here. Obviously they've just voted in a Labour government, but then you've got, like you say, Nigel Farage, who obviously is quite anti-immigration. He's very far right. And like you say, he was just voted in to parliament in July on his eighth try. I mean, I think he started trying in 1993 and he's just been voted in now. Obviously, he's just one man, but I wonder what this means for the country in terms of how difficult it will be to fight anti-immigration sentiment there.

It makes you wonder where the country will go from here. Obviously they've just voted in a Labour government, but then you've got, like you say, Nigel Farage, who obviously is quite anti-immigration. He's very far right. And like you say, he was just voted in to parliament in July on his eighth try. I mean, I think he started trying in 1993 and he's just been voted in now. Obviously, he's just one man, but I wonder what this means for the country in terms of how difficult it will be to fight anti-immigration sentiment there.

It's going to be a real test for Keir Starmer. He obviously had a massive election when only a month ago, but this will be a real test, I guess is his first real test to try and bring some sort of domestic stability to England, because as we see sort of every night there's another riot somewhere else across the country.

It's going to be a real test for Keir Starmer. He obviously had a massive election when only a month ago, but this will be a real test, I guess is his first real test to try and bring some sort of domestic stability to England, because as we see sort of every night there's another riot somewhere else across the country.

I mean, it really has been astonishing to watch what's been happening. So it's so good to have your insights on this. So thank you so much, Nick, for your time. Thank you. Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Tammy Mills, with technical assistance by Chai Huang. Our head of audio is Tom McKendrick. The Morning Edition is a production of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. If you enjoy the show and want more of our journalism, subscribe to our newspapers today. It's the best way to support what we do. Search The age or Smh.com.au forward slash. Subscribe and sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a comprehensive summary of the day's most important news, analysis and insights in your inbox every day. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Selinger. Morris. This is the morning edition. Thanks for listening.

I mean, it really has been astonishing to watch what's been happening. So it's so good to have your insights on this. So thank you so much, Nick, for your time. Thank you. Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Tammy Mills, with technical assistance by Chai Huang. Our head of audio is Tom McKendrick. The Morning Edition is a production of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. If you enjoy the show and want more of our journalism, subscribe to our newspapers today. It's the best way to support what we do. Search The age or Smh.com.au forward slash. Subscribe and sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a comprehensive summary of the day's most important news, analysis and insights in your inbox every day. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Selinger. Morris. This is the morning edition. Thanks for listening.