After a week of unrest and protests against immigration in several places and cities in the United Kingdom, the authorities had prepared for an escalation. But in many places, it did not happen, counter-demonstrations and manifestations against racism took over.
The police had prepared for the worst and put 6,000 police officers on standby to meet new unrest, which initially was driven by right-wing extremist circles but also developed into riots with looting of stores and destruction and expressions of discontent.
A comprehensive manifestation was carried out in Walthamstow in northern London, according to media on the spot. It was directed, like the others in cities around the country, against the violent unrest that followed the murders of three girls in Southport north of Liverpool.
In Brighton, a handful of people gathered to express discontent outside a law firm they perceived as specialized in asylum law. But they found themselves facing around 2,000 counter-demonstrators. Similar scenes unfolded in several other places, reports BBC.