by Kit Knightly, Off Guardian:
Those outside the UK might not have heard, but it’s been a violent week in the UK. Here’s a quick rundown of the official story so far:
Four days ago a 17-year-old allegedly walked into a children’s “Taylor Swift dance class” (whatever that might be) in Southport and started stabbing little girls, wounding 10 and killing 3.
It was initially reported the boy was a muslim immigrant.
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This story was, however, reversed within hours, the new story “revealing” that he was actually born in Cardiff, the son of Rwandan immigrants. He was named as “Axel Muganwa Rudakubana” late yesterday.
His religious affiliation, if any, seems not to have been firmly established.
Another young man was, allegedly, arrested later while in possession of a machete and balaclava at a vigil for the victims. He was, again, reportedly Muslim.
This, allegedly, resulted in what are described as protests and riots, the destruction of a brick wall outside a mosque and the burning of a police van.
Further alleged riots subsequently sprang up in London and Hartlepool.
This is the current narrative. None of the details has been substantiated as yet, so how much you decide to believe is your personal preference at this point.
At OffG we reserve the right to be sceptical. Of everything.
There are a lot of unanswered questions, and the current level of “mourning” by government institutions and groups in no way directly affected by the tragedy always has a taint of the performative that shouldn’t be too quickly conflated with insincerity or worse.
And, of course, all of this is coming hot on the heels of the Manchester Airport incident, where police officers and Muslim youths allegedly clashed violently in as yet obscure circumstances.
Plus the violence in Whitechapel and Leeds a couple of weeks ago.
Then, as now, both sides were provided with adequate rage-bait to get them worked up.
Whatever the truth of this latest incident, and whatever long term aims it might be used to further, this “strategy of tension” has an immediate political agenda already becoming clear – and it’s as predictable as ever.
