A 15-year-old boy has become the first individual to face charges of rioting in connection with the recent spate of violent disturbances that occurred throughout the United Kingdom. The teenager, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, is scheduled to appear at South Tyneside Youth Court on Thursday to enter a plea. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in disorder in Sunderland, England, on August 2nd.
Gale Gilchrist, chief crown prosecutor for northeast England, mentioned that the accused is among several individuals expected to be charged with rioting. The unrest began on July 30th after false information circulated online claiming that the perpetrator of a fatal stabbing that claimed the lives of three children was a Muslim asylum-seeker. Subsequently, rallies instigated by far-right groups targeted a mosque in Southport, the town where the tragic incident took place, sparking widespread violence in various locations nationwide.
Although many individuals have been arrested for violent behavior and subsequently prosecuted, no one had been charged with rioting until now. Rioting is considered a more serious offense with a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Just last week, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to over three years in prison for using social media to incite individuals to set fire to hotels accommodating asylum-seekers.