2024/08/28 by Kamaldeep Bhui, Dianndra Roberts, Myrna Lashley +2 · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Migration, Health and Trauma #Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
paper · doi:10.31234/osf.io/xp965
openalex publication_date 2024/08/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
The UK has seen an outbreak of riots after the death of three children in a knife attack. Misinformation about the suspect’s heritage and religion was spread by social media, which was then used to incite violence and racism resulting in damage to property, terror, and injuries. We put forward arguments that this was an extremist act and draw on the literature on terrorism, extremism, and identity to put forward a deeper analysis of how this happened and what can be done to prevent future riots. We bring an interdisciplinary perspective drawing on research from social, cultural, psychological and political perspectives.