Counter protestors outside Cardiff Library where a previous protest by far-right groups had been expected to take place (Image: Mark Lewis)
A protest by an anti-fascist organisation is planned for Cardiff today amid rumours of far-right groups possibly staging a demonstration in the city. The counter protests are being held in Cardiff city centre on Friday, August 9, amid reports circulated on social media, some unconfirmed, relating to action that could take place in Cardiff, Swansea, Tenby and Aberystwyth over the weekend.
Towns and cities across the UK have been thrown into turmoil over the last 11 days as demonstrations by far right groups in cities like Plymouth, Belfast, Liverpool and Southport have turned violent. Over 400 people have been arrested linked to disturbances caused from the riots with dozens of police officers injured. Several people have already been jailed as a result.
The riots started after the knife attack in Southport last Monday in which three young girls were killed and 10 others seriously injured. A 17-year-old born in Cardiff called Axel Rudakubana has since been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder, but the disorder that followed the stabbings came after misinformation circled on the internet about his identity, wrongly claiming he had arrived in the UK on a small boat.
Police managing counter-protesters outside the Senedd on Sunday, August 3 (Image: Mark Lewis)
While there have been rumours that the same far-right groups planned to protest in Cardiff, this failed to materialise on the weekend as more anti-fascist demonstrators responded. Over the last 48-hours tensions have dimmed across the UK with more peaceful counter protests taking to the streets rather than the violent scenes earlier in the week.
However, with fresh reports of planned far right protests in Cardiff, Swansea and Aberystwyth over the weekend, police have now been contacting businesses about planned protests in the capital today.
There have been violent protests across the UK in the aftermath of a mass stabbing in Southport (Image: Getty Images)
In Cardiff, Police have been in contact with business owners in Cardiff city centre about planned action at 1pm today, Friday, August 9, believed to be linked to the far-right. Unconfirmed reports on social media suggest this will begin near to the Utilita Arena (with no suggestion it is affiliated to the arena). A counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism is planned at midday.
On Saturday, August 10, Stand Up to Racism is planning a demonstration at 1pm, beginning at the Nye Bevan statue on Queen Street. This is understood to be similar to the protests that have taken place weekly in Cardiff since October and is part of the organisation's national day of protest. Other organisations including Cymru Students for Palestine, Black Lives Matter Cardiff & Vale and Cardiff Stop the War are involved.
South Wales Police, Gwent Police and Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed they are aware of potential demonstrations in their force area. However, Gwent Police have said that "there is no information to corroborate any planned disorder in our area at this time".