Foreign countries have issued travel warnings to their residents following widespread riots across the UK. The violent protests, which began in Southport, have spread to cities throughout Great Britain.
Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia have all issued urgent warnings to their citizens living in the UK or planning on visiting the country. In an update today, the Australian government urged its residents to “exercise a high degree of caution” and “avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence”.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is based in its capital Abuja, also warned Nigerians that there is “an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK”, and that “the violence has assumed dangerous proportions.”
The statement continued to read: “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.”
Malaysia was the first country to issue a travel warning on Sunday, urging citizens to “stay away” from dangerous areas and “remain vigilant”.
The government also “strongly encouraged” those living abroad in the UK or visiting for leisure to register with the High Commission of Malaysia in London to “receive timely information and assistance”.
The dangerous riots began in Southport last Tuesday, the day after three girls were stabbed to death in the town while they were attending a Taylor Swift–themed yoga and dance workshop.
False rumours about the attacker circulating online in the aftermath of the harrowing event prompted the fury of anti-immigration rioters around the UK who, over the past few days, have targeted hotels among other buildings.
Multiple police officers have been injured in the violent attacks.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the shocking acts as “far-right thuggery”.
Over the last six days, more than 370 people have been arrested in relation to the unrest, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said. The body’s chair, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, said he expects that figure to rise each day as “forces continue to identify those involved and continue to apprehend those responsible”.
He added work is “going on around the clock to do this”.