UK riots escalate as Elon Musk stirs tensions with conspiracy theory

The CEO of Tesla has drawn criticism after labelling UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as ‘#TwoTierKier’ and promoting a far-right conspiracy theory that claims white rioters are treated more harshly by the police than minorities. His comments have coincided with rising tensions and violent protests across the UK, where asylum centres are being boarded up as a precaution. Amidst the unrest, six thousand police officers are on standby to protect dozens of targeted locations, including asylum centres and law firms, from far-right attacks.

Elon Musk’s tweets have intensified the situation, with officials struggling to get posts removed from X, formerly known as Twitter, that are deemed threats to national security. The riots were triggered by the recent deaths of three children in Southport, leading to a surge in conspiracy theories and far-right activity on social media platforms, particularly Telegram. The messaging app has taken some action by removing a channel promoting violent protests, though it’s unclear whether this was prompted by UK authorities.

United Kingdom law enforcement has been cracking down on those inciting violence online, with arrests already being made. One high-profile arrest involved the wife of a Northampton councillor who called for asylum seeker hotels to be set on fire in a post on X. Meanwhile, rioters have been using TikTok Live to broadcast their actions, providing police with evidence to prosecute and charge over 100 individuals, with some already facing court proceedings.

Critics argue that Musk‘s influence is exacerbating the situation by amplifying extremist voices, including those who had been previously banned from social media. Courts Minister Heidi Alexander condemned Musk’s actions, calling them ‘irresponsible’ and ‘unconscionable.’ Meanwhile, Starmer has focused on the broader issue of online radicalisation, stressing the importance of legal consequences for those promoting violence.