Multiple Travel Warnings Issued for Great Britain Amid Unrest

Level Two: Exercise Extreme Caution.

Several countries have issued travel warnings for the United Kingdom in the midst of riots and unrest in several cities in northern England. 

Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Canada, and Australia have issued warnings or raised their threat assessments for Britain in light of the protests. The U.S. State Department has not issued a separate warning for the unrest, but the country’s travel advisory level has been slightly elevated to Level Two: Exercise Extreme Caution due to threats of terrorism since last summer. 

Rioters targeted two Holiday Inns in northern England, one of which had previously been criticized by a local politician for housing people seeking asylum in Britain. Rioters vandalized the hotels and started at least one fire. 

The protests come in response to online disinformation related to the killing of three young girls last week in Southport, in England’s northwest. False claims that the attacker was an immigrant spread on social media and are partly blamed for the protests. Police have said that the suspect in the stabbing case was born in Britain. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party won a landslide majority in elections just weeks ago, condemned the protests. Police have arrested 147 protesters since the weekend, and others involved in violence will face the full force of the law, he warned. 

Reports of protests have come from across England, although most of the violent protests have been limited to the Midlands and north of England. Southport is near Liverpool, which is a popular tourist destination. 

Governments routinely warn their citizens traveling abroad to avoid demonstrations or protests, noting that even peaceful gatherings are unpredictable and can quickly turn violent. The State Department further warns U.S. travelers to be aware of their surroundings when traveling to tourist location and crowded public venues, follow the instructions of local authorities, and to monitor local news media for breaking events and adjust plans accordingly. 

The hotels involved in the protests were in suburban areas outside of popular tourist districts. Reports that further protests are planned for the area surrounding London are currently being assessed by local law enforcement, with contingencies being put in place for increased local patrols and monitoring. 

It’s also worth noting that although the protests have spread across the country, tourism operators are largely running normally. Airlines have not issued advisories or flexible policies for the United Kingdom, and most tourism attractions appear to be operating their normal schedules. 

U.S. travelers can always register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program whenever they leave the country to ensure that U.S. consular officials have means to contact them in the event of an emergency. Travelers should also make note of the locations of embassies and consulates in each city on their itinerary should they need assistance while traveling. 

The countries that have issued warnings for the United Kingdom have not advised their citizens to avoid or delay their travels in the country—they have only advised citizens should exercise increased caution and a higher degree of vigilance due to the protests. Several of the countries that issued warnings are either Muslim-majority countries or have sizable Muslim populations, and many of the protesters expressed anti-Muslim, anti-Immigrant sentiments. 

The unrest is being called the worst to afflict Britain since riots in 2011 following the police killing of a Black man at a routine traffic stop. Protests started in London and spread throughout Britain over the following week. The State Department issued travel warnings at that time urging Americans to avoid areas of civil unrest and to not engage the protestors.