In a wave of unrest following a tragic stabbing incident in Southport, UK, Sierra Leoneans and other African immigrants have been confined to their homes, gripped by fear.
A video circulating on social media platform X shows immigrants urging their fellow black residents to stay indoors until the situation stabilizes.
The fear stems from widespread harassment of black individuals by angry protesters.
The protests were triggered by the stabbing of three young girls in Southport, northwest England, by a 17-year-old boy of Rwandan descent.
The protests, which began as demonstrations against asylum seekers and immigrants, have escalated into violent clashes. Major cities including Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool, and Middlesbrough have seen chaos, with shops looted and police officers attacked.
Far-right groups have exacerbated the situation, leaving minority communities in fear for their lives.
Over the weekend, violent demonstrations erupted in Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Belfast, and Teesside. The unrest follows the deaths of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, in Southport last Monday.
Misinformation online falsely claimed the suspect was a Muslim refugee, fueling the protests. Axel Rudakubana, 17, of Lancashire, who has been charged with the murders, was actually born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents.
The tragic events have ignited a series of ‘hate marches,’ causing widespread fear and disruption.
