• Windows are boarded up in Northampton, ahead of an anti-immigration protest. PA
    Windows are boarded up in Northampton, ahead of an anti-immigration protest. PA
  • Shutters are pulled down at a Greek restaurant in North Finchley, London. PA
    Shutters are pulled down at a Greek restaurant in North Finchley, London. PA
  • Windows being boarded up at a branch of Foxtons estate agents in North Finchley. PA
    Windows being boarded up at a branch of Foxtons estate agents in North Finchley. PA
  • Police on patrol in North Finchley. PA
    Police on patrol in North Finchley. PA
  • The windows of a bookshop in Northampton are boarded up. PA
    The windows of a bookshop in Northampton are boarded up. PA
  • A poster for a protest opposing the far right in North Finchley, London. PA
    A poster for a protest opposing the far right in North Finchley, London. PA
  • Police officers outside Zenith Immigration Lawyers in Northampton. PA
    Police officers outside Zenith Immigration Lawyers in Northampton. PA

UK riots: Muslims urged not to confront far-right mobs



British Muslims have been urged to avoid counter-demonstrations against a wave of far-right unrest as the UK braces for another night of violence.

Muslim and Jewish representatives held urgent talks with a UK minister and senior police on Wednesday in which the government pledged “the rule of law will win”, The National can reveal.

Shops windows were being boarded up in London as police deployed more than 1,300 officers in anticipation of riots spreading to the capital.

There was a sense of foreboding in the north of England as doctors' surgeries shut, musical events were cancelled and groups gathered near mosques amid rumours of more violence.

Iman Atta, who attended the urgent meeting on behalf of Muslim safety charity Tell Mama, said people were being encouraged to work with police to protect mosques.

However, she added, “we're asking people not to come out” in counter-protests because police are already overstretched.

“We have seen some activity online that there will be people who will take action into their hands and actually go to counter these rioters, which is problematic,” Ms Atta added.

“This will stretch the police’s work safeguarding communities, because then they'll have more to do than actually deal with one side.”

Police were preparing for unrest in Finchley, in north London, on Wednesday. Victoria Pertusa / The National
Police were preparing for unrest in Finchley, in north London, on Wednesday. Victoria Pertusa / The National

Police said charging far-right agitators under counter-terrorism laws was “not ruled out” as authorities try to make an example of rioters.

The first prison sentences were handed out on Wednesday as three men pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Liverpool.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the sentences an example of “the swift action we're taking” as prosecutors said they were just the “tip of the iceberg”.

Shops were being boarded up in towns including Northampton, Rotherham and Southend as riots spread around Britain and Northern Ireland.

In the northern city of Sheffield, The National witnessed more than 20 officers and four riot vans surround a Holiday Inn Express and car park in the city centre, days after an asylum seeker hotel was attacked by 700 rioters.

Emergency evacuation drills took place in shopping centres in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, ahead of a reported protest due to take place on Saturday outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Mosques and Asian stores in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, were closed and groups of Muslim youths stood on street corners in anticipation of attacks.

Hull, in East Yorkshire, was on a knife edge as shops closed next to a mosque amid rumours it was going to be attacked. Days earlier, shops were looted and attacked in the city.

A number of musical events due to take place in the city this weekend have been cancelled over safety fears.

Damage caused by UK riots – in pictures

  • Damage to the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where windows were smashed and fires were started in demonstrations purportedly against asylum-seekers. PA
    Damage to the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where windows were smashed and fires were started in demonstrations purportedly against asylum-seekers. PA
  • The interior of a tobacco and vapes shop which was ransacked after a night of violent disorder in the northern English city of Liverpool. EPA
    The interior of a tobacco and vapes shop which was ransacked after a night of violent disorder in the northern English city of Liverpool. EPA
  • A fire-damaged Citizen's Advice Bureau office in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, northern England. PA
    A fire-damaged Citizen's Advice Bureau office in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, northern England. PA
  • Damage to the Spellow Hub community library in the northern English city of Liverpool. EPA
    Damage to the Spellow Hub community library in the northern English city of Liverpool. EPA
  • A man tries to clean up a supermarket damaged by fire on Donegall Road following anti-immigration protests in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP
    A man tries to clean up a supermarket damaged by fire on Donegall Road following anti-immigration protests in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP
  • Damage to the Bash Cafe in south Belfast, which was burned during riots. PA
    Damage to the Bash Cafe in south Belfast, which was burned during riots. PA
  • Damage at the Clumsy Swan pub in the east of the England Midlands city of Birmingham. PA
    Damage at the Clumsy Swan pub in the east of the England Midlands city of Birmingham. PA
  • Police officers outside a damaged butcher's shop in Hartlepool, a seaside town in County Durham. PA
    Police officers outside a damaged butcher's shop in Hartlepool, a seaside town in County Durham. PA
  • The Windsor Mini Mart in the English town of Southport, north of Liverpool, was looted. PA
    The Windsor Mini Mart in the English town of Southport, north of Liverpool, was looted. PA

In north London, The National saw police speaking to local people and businesses to tell them about the threats of unrest as windows at an estate agency were boarded up.

Immigration lawyers and refugee support centres have closed their doors after messages circulated online calling for protests outside their offices.

Shawali Qudus, 61, a shopkeeper who is originally from Afghanistan, told The National he was concerned after reading reports of planned far-right action in Finchley, in the north of the capital.

Shawali Qudus, a shopkeeper in Finchley, north London, is concerned by reports of possible violence. Victoria Pertusa / The National
Shawali Qudus, a shopkeeper in Finchley, north London, is concerned by reports of possible violence. Victoria Pertusa / The National

“There is every reason to be concern because they've been attacking shops and innocent people walking in the streets,” said Mr Qudus.

“If they protest, that's fine but if they attack anyone then we would be worried. As a shopkeeper we've seen shops in other parts of the country attacked.

“I've been here for nearly 40 years and I haven't seen something like this before. What I've seen is really bad.

“The police came this morning and said: 'Don't worry we're here.'”

Police patrolling in north London as ministers warned that rioters will face the full force of the law. PA
Police patrolling in north London as ministers warned that rioters will face the full force of the law. PA

England's worst unrest since the 2011 London riots has led several countries including the UAE to urge citizens to be careful in the UK.

The unrest was triggered by a knife attack that killed three children in Southport, near Liverpool, and false social media rumours suggesting an asylum seeker was responsible.

Police in hard-hit areas have drafted in officers from neighbouring forces but UK officer numbers are low by European standards and guns and water cannon are not used.

In Belfast, Iraqi shop owner Ali Wartty said he was scared to take his young children outside after his Middle East Market was swarmed by rioters.

“They attacked the shop and the staff and began beating them,” he said. “One of the staff was injured after being beaten and one of our customers was injured.”

Dozens of people have been charged and appeared in court in connection with the disorder in Britain. PA
Dozens of people have been charged and appeared in court in connection with the disorder in Britain. PA

Rule of law pledge

Britain's Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, who is the MP for Finchley, told Muslim and Jewish representatives at Wednesday's meeting that “the rule of law will win”.

As well as Tell Mama (Measuring anti-Muslim Attacks), the charity's Jewish equivalent, the Community Security Trust, also attended.

Police shared their plans for protecting mosques and synagogues as well as emergency contact numbers if riots began unexpectedly.

It was also reported that far-right Nordic groups, mainly from Norway and Sweden, have been encouraging racist groups in Britain to take to the streets.

“Unfortunately, the unrest has opened up a Pandora’s Box in attracting many people from outside the UK,” said Ms Atta.

She also condemned Elon Musk’s comments on X about a “civil war” in Britain as “highly irresponsible” and “pushing that narrative of hate”.

“There's a mobilisation of resources in place to secure and safeguard communities both Jewish and Muslim,” she said.

“Sarah Sackman showed leadership in terms of messaging around the assurance, saying no to Islamophobia, no to anti-Semitism and how communities should be standing together.”

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

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Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aaron%20Horvath%20and%20Michael%20Jelenic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Anya%20Taylor-Joy%2C%20Charlie%20Day%2C%20Jack%20Black%2C%20Seth%20Rogen%20and%20Keegan-Michael%20Key%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 1 (Martinez 18' pen)

Juventus 2 (Dybala 4', Higuain 80')

Results

5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar

7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi

 

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Updated: August 07, 2024, 4:50 PM