12-year-old boy becomes youngest person to be charged over far-right riots in UK

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A 12-year-old boy has become the youngest person to be charged over the far-right riots that broke out across England following the Southport stabbing on July 29.

The boy, whose name has not been disclosed due to his age, has been charged with violent disorder in the Merseyside town, Southport on July 30.

In a statement, Merseyside Police said that the 12-year-old male is among three males to be charged over the riot that broke out the day after three minors were killed in the mass stabbing on July 29.

It added that he was charged with violent disorder and remanded to appear at Merseyside Youth Court on Monday.

As of Sunday, 927 people were arrested and 466 others charged since violent disorder broke out in towns and cities across the country.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson said the government "will not rest until the job is done" when asked if the police and courts will continue to pursue those involved in the riots.

While there was a welcome de-escalation over the weekend, the country remains on "high alert" for further disorder, Sky News reported, citing the spokesperson.

"The job is not done until people feel safe in their communities," they added.

The UK has been rocked by turmoil for days, with violent far-right rioters spewing racist and Islamophobic vitriol targeting Muslims, minority groups and migrants.

The riots were fueled by false claims spread online that a suspect arrested for the July 29 fatal stabbing of three children in Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker.

Authorities have since identified the attacker as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old born in Cardiff, Wales to Rwandan parents, but this has done little to deter the far-right mobs.