Good morning. Safety on British streets remains a pressing concern. Two violent incidents, the killing of Henry Nowak in Southampton and the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast, have been used by far-right groups, turning shared public areas into sites of conflict. It is natural to feel insecure after viewing footage of an attacker with a knife or officers restraining a wounded young man. Similar unease arises from scenes of minority families escaping fires in Belfast or crowds confronting passersby in Glasgow. Tensions have risen quickly, yet feelings of vulnerability for those wearing religious symbols, holding hands with a same-sex partner, or using mobility aids have grown over time. Today we discuss with our community affairs correspondent Aamna Mohdin how attitudes toward visible minorities have shifted at ground level and outline practical measures to improve safety in common areas. First the headlines. Five big stories Middle East: The United States carried out fresh attacks on Iranian targets for a second day after Donald Trump vowed strong responses as a recent ceasefire nears breakdown. UK politics: Keir Starmer’s advisers are preparing for a possible leadership challenge ahead of Andy Burnham’s expected return to parliament if he secures the Makerfield by-election, according to Guardian sources. Belfast: Elon Musk’s platform X faces no immediate requirement to remove posts promoting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months despite criticism of the service and its owner. Environment: Antarctic temperatures exceeded 15C this month, breaking the prior winter record and highlighting faster climate change. UK news: A major government contractor has begun probing claims of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech by staff at immigration detention facilities, the Guardian learned. In depth: Normalised hostility and its effects On Monday evening Stephen Ogilvie was attacked on a Belfast street. Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid faces charges of attempted murder. Graphic video of the incident spread online and was amplified by far-right voices urging street action. On Tuesday evening protests turned violent with masked groups blocking roads and setting fire to cars, homes and shops, forcing families to flee. On Wednesday police deployed water cannon against around 300 people who torched a truck and reportedly targeted a hotel housing migrants. Ogilvie’s relatives said they did not want the tragedy used to divide communities. A similar appeal came from Henry Nowak’s father after his murder last December. Both statements were overlooked as politicians from Reform, Rupert Lowe, and figures including Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson used the events for political gain. Aamna and I began this conversation last month while reporting on minority communities preparing for increased racism after Reform’s election gains. Four weeks on the anxiety has grown. Many Black, Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ+ and disabled groups note the hostile climate has developed over years rather than weeks, Aamna says. It feels like a very unfriendly period. She traces the start to Brexit and the tone of the 2016 Leave campaign. Political and media language toward these communities changed, normalising hostility in public debate with visible results on the streets. Such rhetoric moves beyond Westminster into workplaces, transport and schools, and has contributed to the 2024 race riots and current unrest in Belfast. Official data shows long-term drops in violent crime yet sharp rises in hate offences, especially those motivated by race or religion. Crime is frequently viewed through a racial filter so that acts by individuals lead to blame on entire groups, as British Sikh and Sudanese communities have reported.
