Friday, September 20, 2024

Australians warned against UK travel amid far-right riots

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Several countries, including Australia, have issued travel advisory notices warning tourists of the risk to their safety from anti-immigration protests and riots in the UK.

Last night the United Arab Emirates also joined Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia in telling its citizens to be on high alert over the continuing unrest.

The violence has affected town and city centres across the country, including tourist destinations such as Manchester and Liverpool, where riots on Saturday took place a stone’s throw from the popular Beatles Story Experience and the Royal Albert Dock, a former Unesco world heritage site.

Why are there riots across the UK?

Australia’s government told its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution”, adding: “Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence”, in an update to its UK travel advice on Monday.

The UAE said an “unstable security situation in various cities across the UK” could put travellers at risk.

Riots in Middlesbrough: Nigeria warned its citizens that “the violence has assumed dangerous proportions”

IAN FORSYTH/GETTY IMAGES

The Gulf country, which includes popular destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, warned Emirati nationals in the UK to exercise the “highest level of caution”.

It also warned citizens “against visiting areas witnessing riots and protests, and to avoid crowded areas”, adding that they should remain in contact with the UAE embassy in London.

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A “travel alert” by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based in the capital Abuja, stated that there is “an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK”, noting that “the violence has assumed dangerous proportions”.

It continued: “Demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances unruly.”

The Indonesian embassy in London also issued a warning, advising its citizens in the UK to avoid large crowds and increase their vigilance.

Malaysia earlier advised people to stay away from protest areas.

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