A broken glass window is pictured at a take-away food shop in Middlesbrough, north east england on August 5, 2024, following rioting and looting the day before. UK leader Keir Starmer warned far-right protesters on Sunday they would "regret" participating in England's worst rioting in 13 years, as disturbances linked to the murder of three children earlier this week flared across the country. There were large scuffles in Bolton, north west England, and Middlesbrough, north east England, where mobs smashed windows of houses and cars, leading to 43 arrests. (Photo by Yelim LEE / AFP)
SEREMBAN: The ongoing protests in several areas of the United Kingdom are increasingly alarming and have escalated into violence, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He advised Malaysians residing in or visiting the UK to stay away from protest areas and register with the Malaysian High Commission in London to facilitate safety-related matters.
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“Malaysians are advised to avoid anticipated target areas and keep in touch with the High Commission so that we can know they are in good condition,” he told reporters at Wisma Negeri here yesterday.
“If you have no pressing matters, do not leave your home. Also, Malaysians need to register with our high commission in London so that we can monitor their well-being,” he added.
Mohamad said the current protests were seen as a new pattern of right-wing resurgence with low tolerance and expressed hope that these incidents would not spread further.
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He also said that the dissemination of false information on social media poses a threat and could cause issues for any nation.
The Foreign Ministry, in a statement earlier, said Malaysians requiring consular assistance can contact the Malaysian High Commission in London at 45-46 Belgrave Square, London, UK or call +44 20 3931 6196 or +44 20 7235 8033 or email at mwlondon@kln.gov.my.
Mohamad said that the violence was due to misinformation on social media showed how important it is to license these platforms.
The riots, UK’s worst in the past 13 years, had erupted after far right social media accounts carried and spread false reports that the murders of three young girls in the northern English seaside town of Southport crimes were committed by a Muslim and a migrant from the Middle East.
“That is how dangerous social media can be if there is misinformation and when it is abused.
“Such false information can spread quickly and can lead to worse things such as violence and rioting,” he said.
