Statement: HOPE not hate are monitoring 48 possible locations for disturbances today

2pm, Wednesday 7 August

HOPE not hate is prioritising 48 locations today that have been mentioned as possible locations for far-right mobilisations. However, some reports suggest that there could be as many as 100 mobilisations across the country.

Several days ago, a list of 39 locations was compiled and released in an extreme far-right Telegram channel that was one of the central online spaces behind this week’s racist violence in Merseyside. This is a “hit list” of aspirational targets that calls for action, up to and including terrorism.

However, what started as an aspirational list of locations, primarily targeting service providers for refugees and asylum seekers, has subsequently been spread widely around the internet and is being discussed as a list of locations for protests, disturbances or attacks. 

The wide circulation of this list has caused a great deal of distress, unease and fear within the communities mentioned. Indeed, this list has been compiled precisely to spread these emotions within Muslim and immigrant communities. Understandably, many are now organising counter-protests and demonstrations to defend the locations listed for attack.

This single list, created by one Telegram channel, and likely one individual, differs from the wave of more organically-organised riots and violence we have seen over the past week. Most of the previous events were organised by individuals from those locations with support from local far-right activists and racists. 

The fact that a list compiled by and first published in a relatively small Telegram channel subsequently spread nationwide shows how easily far-right individuals can spread fear and possibly mobilise violence by using social media. 

Because these event locations have not been selected by people local to them, it is unclear which will actually materialise. HOPE not hate has found very little discussion within far-right networks about attending, which means some may see no protest at all. However, any and all services should be on high alert.

However, in addition to this single list of locations, there are at least nine other protests planned which are more inline with the past week of events. These appear to be more locally organised and as such may attract larger numbers.

As has been the case all week, it remains extremely difficult to accurately predict whether promoted events will materialise, as is the likely attendance numbers and the level of hostility/violence to be expected if they do.

In addition to pre-advertised events, there is also a chance that the current tensions may result in further disturbances occurring spontaneously in towns and cities across the UK.