Amir Khan hits out at far-right thugs draping themselves in Union Jack
Amir Khan has hit out at far-right hooligans for draping themselves in the Union Jack during violent riots.
The Olympic boxer, who won a silver medal at Athens 2004, spoke out over thugs using the Southport attacks to legitimise widespread disorder.
It comes as police are bracing for a weekend of fresh riots, while masked demonstrators are already clashing in Belfast.
Discussing rioters wearing the flag, the 37-year-old boxer told the Mirror: ‘It’s an insult.
‘These Olympians are bringing honour to our country, that flag is for heroes, not these morons.
Amar Khan has spoken out about far-right thugs using the Union Jack during their riots
The 37-year-old wears the official Team GB football shirt in support of the London 2012 Olympics
Protestors wave Union Jack flags as far-right activists hold a demonstration on August 4
Protesters take part in a ‘Unity Rally’ as a man wearing a Union Jack gestures towards them on August 9 in Crawley
‘We fly that flag high. It’s sad there are these morons who are discrediting it. There’s still division.
‘Despite what we do for Great Britain, people don’t see Asians as being British. That’s why we have all these fights and problems, we’re divided. I’ve lived in Britain my whole life and I love it to bits. I spend time abroad now because I don’t want to be targeted.’
On Wednesday, thousands of peaceful gatherings protested against the far-right hate mobs, which Khan described as ‘amazing to see’.
The Bolton-born fighter, who is of Pakistani heritage, also added: ‘We need to celebrate our diversity, our multiculturalism. That’s what we are all about.’
Yesterday, it was revealed that the King praised ordinary Brits who rose up against far-right hate in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
King Charles spoke warmly of the ‘many examples of community spirit’ that have thwarted attempts to instil hate and fear in communities across Britain during a call with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tonight in the wake of the rioting.
He also spoke to police chiefs about the strain their officers have been under as more than 100 are thought to have been injured attempting to keep the peace amid hate riots stoked online by the far-right.
Charles, who is currently on holiday at his Birkhall home in Scotland but has continued to work and been updated daily on the recent unrest, is understood to have been monitoring events for a number of days.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said his calls with the Prime Minister and police leaders came after a series of ‘private calls throughout the week concerning recent events – and in particular the impact they have had on affected communities’.
An anti-immigration protester wearing a Union Jack mask outside of the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, which is being used as an asylum hotel
A sole British nationalist protests from the middle of a circle of police officers in Crawley
Police officers in Newcaslte, ahead of a far-right demonstration
Police have ramped up their presence ahead of what is feared to be a weekend of riots
Regarding the riots today, Keir Starmer has warned against complacency as a ‘standing army’ of 6,000 officers remain on standby amid fears thugs could take advantage of hot weather and the return of the football season to fuel more unrest.
The Prime Minister’s comments follow consecutive nights of relative quiet across England, as more than 595 suspected rioters were arrested, 150 charged and several handed jail terms to deter further disorder.
Speaking during a visit to Met Police headquarters, Sir Keir said the start of the football season would be ‘added into the mix’ of challenges facing authorities this weekend.
‘We have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure,’ he said.
Temperatures of up to 33C (91F) could hit parts of the country this weekend in a ‘short-lived but quite intense’ hot spell – which may disappoint police chiefs hoping for rain to keep crowds off the streets.
