UK riots: Shops boarded up in London amid fears of violence; govt brings 6K specialist police officers

Shops and an immigration bureau were boarded up while bracing for anti-Muslim and anti-migrant riots in northeast London on Wednesday (August 7) morning, while locals said they felt “heartbroken” and “unsafe”. Far-right groups are planning to demonstrate outside the Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, and a counter-protest is scheduled to take place at the same time. The Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau’s shop front was boarded up ahead of the protests, but a Middle Eastern restaurant across the street had not followed suit. The government has put together a so-called “standing army” of 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to any outbreaks of violence, and say they will have a big enough presence to deal with any unrest.