By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
PETERBOROUGH, UK (AA) – The past week in the UK has been “very worrying” due to far-right riots, but “we are not going to stand for that in Peterborough,” said a British lawmaker for the city.
Speaking to Anadolu, Labour MP Andrew Pakes said the government would not tolerate the “thuggery” exhibited by the far-right groups across the country.
Pakes’ comments came Wednesday as he walked in a Muslim-dominated area on Lincoln Road, accompanied by local councilors to assure people and businesses that they would be supported fully against threats by the far right.
“I'm walking about meeting shopkeepers, talking to residents today just to reassure the community, regardless of some of the rumors on the internet being spread about the thugs, the violence, of the riots,” he said.
Pakes added: “We're one community in Peterborough. The police, the Muslim community, the white community, everyone together is saying to people that we don't want hate and division.
"And by walking about talking to businesses, talking to others, we can demonstrate that we all support the same aim which is peace and getting on, living with each other.”
Pakes stressed that he would not stand for “very nasty right-wing violence” which targeted mosques, libraries and public buildings.
Echoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said that “thuggery and violence will not be accepted, and anyone who is found guilty of violence will face the full force of the law.”
“But we're a much better place in Peterborough, and that's why the community is coming together to look out for each other. We know the value of being good neighbors here in this city. I'm going to make sure we protect that.”
Also speaking to Anadolu, local Councilor Mohammad Jamil confirmed the efforts on the safety of locals.
“We always have to be vigilant,” Jamil said.
“This is not going to finish today. It's not going to finish tomorrow. But we have to be vigilant. We have to stay alert and we have to react if something is going to happen.
“We have to defend ourselves, and we have to let the police do their job as well,” he added.
Anna Smith, councilor and deputy mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, highlighted that the community in Peterborough is “fantastic.”
“The reason that I'm here today is to show that we are concerned, that we want to talk to the community directly to hear what they have to say and also to reassure them that everyone is trying to do the very best they can at this very frightening time for our communities,” she added.
A planned far-right riot failed in the city of Peterborough in eastern England as not a single rioter turned up Wednesday at the location circulated as a potential target.
Police took extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of the local community, workplaces and mosques.
“Everything is under control. Nothing can happen here,” said a police officer who spoke to Anadolu on condition of anonymity.
Police cars patrolled around Muslim-dominated areas, especially the Millfield area, and constantly checked the mosques in the area.
Despite all the measures by the authorities, around 1,000 local people, mostly Muslim men, gathered to ensure the safety of the community at a junction close to where the far-right mobs were supposed to gather.