People with colored skin raise guard, fearing far-right attacks in UK

Tanzanian students, as well as others from African and Asian countries studying in the UK, have taken extra precautions owing to their skin colors, which can easily be identified by far-right rioters, limiting themselves to their apartments and hostels with barely stored groceries. Yusuph Mazimu, a Tanzanian student in the UK, told Anadolu over the phone on Thursday that there is a lot of tension and fear, particularly among people from Africa and Asia who are easily identifiable.

Mazimu, whose voice can easily assess his ongoing fear, said: "For someone like me, being outside is dangerous. They can pursue you with spears."

"Our color makes it easier to identify us as different, which increases anxiety. So it's difficult for people of African and Asian origin to go unnoticed," he said, expressing concern about recent far-right attacks, store lootings, and hotel fires, where some asylum seekers have been staying.

"Most of us remain indoors. I have only been to the nearby shop once since last week," he said, adding: "Where I live is on the main road to the migrants' residence, and they are the targeted ones."

Wednesday's far-right gathering in his neighborhood went off without incident, but Thursday's call appears to be larger, he said, fearing more chaos.

However, since his country's mission statement, asking Tanzanians to contact it in case of an emergency, he feels more confident in his stay-at-home strategy. He hopes the chaos will end soon.

"We are ready to fully support and protect our people in collaboration with local authorities," Tanzania's High Commissioner to London Mbelwa Kairuki told Anadolu over the phone Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Tanzanian High Commission issued a travel advisory, asking those in the UK to exercise caution and those planning to travel to review their flight schedules as far-right rioters’ wreaked havoc in many parts of the country.

The advisory was issued in response to a series of racist attacks in the UK, and other African countries, such as Nigeria and Kenya, have also issued similar travel advisories to their citizens, urging them to exercise caution.

"So far, no Tanzanian has been reported to have faced any difficulties as a result of the unrest. We argue that they should exercise caution and refrain from participating in the ongoing riots. I hope it stays that way so that our people are safe. However, if anything happens, we are prepared to fully support and protect our people in collaboration with the authorities. Kairuki pledged while talking to Anadolu.

The unrest, described as one of the worst in years to strike the UK, was sparked by the fatal stabbing of three young girls in northwest England last week.

Following these horrific events, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant extremists have been mobilized by a flood of disinformation, including false claims that the attacker was an immigrant.

This misinformation has fueled a dangerous wave of violence and heightened tensions across the UK.