Several countries, including Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, have issued safety warnings to their citizens about travelling to the UK in light of widespread anti-immigration protests across the country.
Multiple demonstrations turned violent across Britain over the weekend, as anti-immigration protesters clashed with police following the murder of three children by a teenager of African descent last week.
According to media reports, at least five countries have now issued travel warnings to their citizens.
Malaysia was the first country to issue a notice to its citizens in the UK on Sunday, urging them to “stay away from protest areas” and “remain vigilant.”
The Indonesian Embassy in London issued a similar appeal, urging its citizens in the UK to be cautious, especially if traveling or doing activities outside the home, and to “avoid large crowds and places that have the potential to become gathering places for masses or groups of demonstrators.”
Nigeria issued a travel alert on Monday, warning its citizens planning to visit the UK that demonstrations in parts of the UK have been “large and in some instances unruly” and that “there is an increased risk of violence and disorder.”
In its warning on Monday, the Australian government also advised its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution,” saying: “Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence.”
On Monday, the official account of the UAE Embassy in London urged citizens of the country to “exercise the necessary precautions and avoid crowded areas.”
India is the latest nation to have issued a warning. On Tuesday morning, the High Commission of India in London reportedly said it was “closely monitoring the situation,” and warned Indian citizens to “stay vigilant and exercise due caution while traveling in the UK” and avoid any areas where protests may be taking place.
Dozens of British towns and cities have been rocked by protests against immigration and Islam since last Monday, when a British teenager of Rwandan descent stabbed three children to death and injured ten others in the town of Southport, near Liverpool.
Over 400 people have been arrested after riots rocked Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Hull, Belfast, Stoke, and other cities across UK, according to media reports.