Community organisations, Bedfordshire Police, and Bedford & Kempston’s MP have called for calm and asked people to stop spreading misinformation after Bedford appeared on a list reportedly highlighting future far-right protests.
Islam Bedford posted on their social media pages that they were working with Bedfordshire Police and Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) to “ensure the safety of our community” after several posts appeared with lists of where protests may take place.
Call for calm
Bedfordshire Police have now warned that anyone taking part in “violence or disorder” will be dealt with “swiftly and robustly”. They also say they’re working with forces across the region to, “counter any disorder and ensure that residents of Bedfordshire are safe and supported.”
Bedford & Kempston MP Mr Yasin has also called for calm and urged people to think before they share posts on social media.
In a response to a question from the Bedford Independent, Mr Yasin said: “I am aware of the rumours that some of the violent attacks we have seen in town and cities across the country may be being planned for our community.
“My office contacted Bedfordshire Police first thing this morning to discuss what more they are doing to keep our community safe from violent mobs intent on harm and wanton destruction.
“Attacking police officers, looting and damaging shops, burning down public buildings as we’ve seen like libraries, citizens advice bureaus, and violence is not protest – it’s criminal behaviour which seems to have been whipped up as a result of misinformation and far-right antagonism.”
Mr Yasin also highlighted the need for calm, given the impact it is having on local communities and the families of the recent Southport stabbings.
“It is devastating to see how the hatred of a small group of people who seek to sow division in our communities is causing nothing but harm and fear to the majority of law-abiding people of Bedford and Kempston who want and do live together in peace and harmony,” he said.
“Their violent actions we have all seen take place in other towns and cities have heaped even more pain and suffering on to the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar who were murdered last week.
“One of the mums asked for the violence to stop and surely if we want to honour their beautiful children and their grief, this has to stop and justice be served properly to the perpetrator of the horrific crime.”
Mr Yasin added, “I ask everyone to remain calm, to be aware of the misinformation and terror that is being whipped up online and to be very careful how they respond to it.
“I urge people not to take what is a police matter into your own hands or arrange counter-protests – it is more likely to cause more harm than good, put people at risk and put even more strain on our police force who are doing everything they can to keep our community safe.
“My office is in regular contact with Bedfordshire police and I will be meeting with them tomorrow about the best way to keep our community safe.
“I will keep you informed. Please contact my office with any concerns or the police if you have any intelligence that may help them.”
Facebook posts reported to police
The Bedford Independent has also seen posts in a right-wing Bedford community Facebook group suggesting some of its members are looking to take part in protests.
These posts have been passed to Bedfordshire Police for investigation who have said they will continue to monitor social media and gather intelligence.
Superintendent Graham Bates added: “Disinformation has been a huge driver of the appalling violence we have seen across the country, and we know a lot of those taking part are doing so in direct response to what they’ve read online.
“We are monitoring such posts and ask the public to refrain from sharing information from unofficial sources or ‘event’ details in any way as it may only serve to cause concern.
“Policing will facilitate peaceful protest to ensure both demonstrators and the wider community are safe and criminality is prevented. However, we will not tolerate protests that engage in violence or disorder and seek to divide or cause harm to our communities.
“Anyone taking part in this behaviour will be dealt with swiftly and robustly.
“We are working closely with forces across the eastern region and standing up additional resources to counter any disorder and ensure that residents of Bedfordshire are safe and supported.”
It’s been reported that 378 people have been arrested after far-right riots in Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Hull, Belfast, Stoke and other cities across UK over weekend.
The Independent reports that the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has held an emergency Cobra meeting after far-right mobs carried out racist attacks and set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and Tamworth.
Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said: “We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.
“The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.
“I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law.”
