Online misinformation about a triple murder sparked Britain’s worst riots in 13 years, and an international debate about the failure of social media platforms to police hate speech and false reports.
The attacks targeted immigrants, and broke out in predominantly English towns and cities as well as Northern Ireland. Far-right groups were recorded looting, attacking police and locals, and performing Nazi salutes. Mobs chanting “Send them home” and “Islam out” destroyed mosques and graffitied racial slurs on homes. In some of the more violent instances, rioters stormed hotels housing asylum seekers.
