Australia issues urgent warning to citizens travelling to the UK | World | News
Australia is among a list of nations that has alerted residents living or travelling to the UK following days of far-right violent riots. The nation warned its citizens of the risk to their safety if they were planning on travelling to Great Britain.
Yesterday evening, the United Arab Emirates also issued a warning alongside Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia, all of whom have told their citizens to be on high alert. The violent anti-immigration riots have taken place in cities frequented by tourists, including Manchester and Liverpool.
In an update to its UK travel advice on Monday, the Australian government told citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution”. “Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence”, the statement continued.
The United Arab Emirates government gave a similar warning, stating that the “unstable security situation in various cities across the UK” could put tourists at risk of danger. The UAE is home to popular tourist destinations Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are frequented by British tourists.
The country also advised “against visiting areas witnessing riots and protests, and to avoid crowded areas”, and urged its citizens to contact the UAE embassy in London. Emirati nationals living abroad in the UK have also been told to exercise the “highest level of caution”.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told its citizens that there is “an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK”, and the “the violence has assumed dangerous proportions”. Continuing, the statement read: “Demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances unruly.”
Following violent conflict in Rotherham on Sunday, at least ten police officers were injured, with one left unconcious, reported South Yorkshire Police. There were 20 arrests made by Humberside Police, 10 in Stoke, 20 in Lancashire and 14 in Bristol on Sunday.
Twenty-three individuals were arrested by Merseyside Police, where riot officers were deployed in County Road, where marauding youths set fire to bins and blocked the street in the early hours.
Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who speaks on public order for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “We know people will try and do this again and policing has been and will continue to be ready. There are 130 extra units in place across the country, meaning almost 4,000 extra public order-trained officers to deploy.
“So if you’re planning to cause trouble and disorder our message is very simple – we’ll be watching you.”
