Radical social media influencers pushed false claims that Hindu nationalist groups were behind attacks in Leicester, sparking a backlash against the Hindu community, a report has claimed.
A new report by the national security think tank The Henry Jackson Society (pdf) claims that unrest has been falsely presented as involving organised Hindu extremist groups.
Leicester saw serious incidents of disorder following India’s victory over Pakistan in an Asia Cup cricket match starting on Aug. 28.
Groups of men from the Hindu and Muslim communities, mostly masked or hooded, were seen in tense confrontations and stand-offs on the city’s streets.
This then extended to Birmingham, including vandalism of property, assaults, stabbings, and attacks on places of worship leading to numerous arrests, voluntary interviews, and charges. There have been 55 arrests or voluntary police interviews….