- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Clashes that are ongoing between Hindus and Muslims could “spread to all over Britain”, faith leaders have warned, after around 100 protesters gathered around a Hindu temple in Smethwick on Tuesday (20) night.
According to a report in The Telegraph, UK, the faith leaders on Wednesday (22) night issued the warning that the current unrest, allegedly fuelled by disinformation on social media, “will spread all over Britain”.
The caution came a day after Muslim demonstrators reportedly targeted police personnel in Smethwick with fireworks and missiles as the chaos seen in Leicester over the weekend appeared to reach the Midlands.
An image that shames Britain: riot cops called in to protect a Hindu centre in Smethwick, as bottles & firecrackers rain in from a crowd of 200 Muslims, enraged about a speaker they didn’t like pic.twitter.com/dudfTTW1kl
— Martin Daubney 🇬🇧 (@MartinDaubney) September 21, 2022
Forty-seven arrests were made in Leicester over the weekend for offences such as threats to kill; possession of firearms, etc.
According to some, the sectarian clashes were linked to a “country-based dispute” after India defeated Pakistan in a cricket match in Dubai on August 28. Others claimed that false claims made on social media triggered the violence.
A British Pakistani outside a Hindu Temple in Smethwick, Birmingham says that "BJP & RSS supporters are not welcome…anywhere in the UK" pic.twitter.com/l9EzeO4UbT
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) September 21, 2022
The disorder, involving members from both the religious communities, erupted in Smethwick after a crowd gathered outside the Durga Bhawan Temple. Videos emerged showing the men in masks and hood shouting “Allahu akbar” while dozens of officers present on the spot in riot gear. No injuries were, however, reported and a teenager was arrested on the suspicion of carrying a knife.
Cops continued to monitor the area on Wednesday and said they would do it locally as well as across the region, The Telegraph report added.
More footage of the religious street war in #Smethwick.
Gangs of Muslims are travelling in to attack #Hindus.
This #Islamist violence is spreading across the country. #BritainFirst @AshleaSimonBF pic.twitter.com/w5RqhA2Nf1
— Ashlea Simon (@AshleaSimonBF) September 20, 2022
Vinod, a Hindu from Leicester, who said he was scared to give his full name fearing reprisals, told The Telegraph, “This will continue to spread.
“Social media is playing a big part in this and there is an agenda – people are looking at creating disarray between communities – not just in Leicester but across all of the UK.
What utter BS. The violence in Smethwick – 200 Muslim men stormed a Hindu temple – was not caused by “fake news” that “fuels anxiety”
It’s caused by religious intolerance, bullying & the entitlement of a mob who know cops will soft-soap them for fear of being called racist pic.twitter.com/Dz9HizupJb
— Martin Daubney 🇬🇧 (@MartinDaubney) September 22, 2022
“We’ve been informed that there’s going to be something similar in Nottingham and Coventry. It’s well-planned with a narrative of anti-Islam and anti-Hindu sentiment and it’s the actions of a few fanatics who are trying to get a reaction.”
He added: “My personal opinion is that if we are not careful, it will spread all across Britain, wherever there are south Asian communities.”
Community leaders on both sides have said that the clashes in Smethwick started following rumours that an extremist Hindu speaker from the sub-continent was due to address a meeting at the Durga Bhawan Centre on Tuesday.
Hindu faith leaders joined forces with their Muslim counterparts on Tuesday afternoon, issuing a statement calling for calm
