Sheffield protests: 'Masked Muslims with machetes roaming streets' claims by far-right debunked
The supposed anti-immigration protest on Wednesday was not a strong turn out for the Take Back Our Country crowd, so they lied about it.
“Masked Muslims are on the move in Sheffield,” wrote one X account, ‘Europe Invasion’, in a tweet that got 29,000 likes on August 7. “Many are armed with knives and machetes. The UK is going through dangerous times.”
“Two tier Keir is allowing the left and Muslims to run around Sheffield with weapons,” wrote a similar account, ‘Sick Of It.’ “But if you tweet about not liking it, they will threaten you with arrest.”
Then Tommy Robinson chimed in. “Screams of ‘allahu akbar’ as mobs of masked Muslims run around Sheffield looking for the ghost of the EDL... Instead of admitting it's false, they want us all in prison for tweeting about it.”
The tweets came after a planned anti-immigration protest in front of City Hall on August 7 attracted approximately 20 protestors and 150 counter-protestors.
However, the far-right online would have their readers believe a violent mob of immigrants was roaming the city with machetes - ‘see, THEY’RE the ones rioting,’ being the sentiment.
The evidence in all this were three clips circulating online showing a large group of men, masked or not, in Barker’s Pool, Cambridge Street and London Road. Yes, a number of them do say say Allahu Akbar, meaning God is great, which is the Muslim equivalent of hallelujah.
But amid all this, X user @katyfiesty posted a video showing the exact location in Barker’s Pool in the video on August 7 showing the square by City Hall completely empty. They wrote: “There's a video doing the rounds of ‘Muslims’ allegedly rioting in Sheffield. This is fake news. This is the current situation at that exact location.”
So what really happened?
Debunking far-right claims of ‘masked Muslims’ rioting in Sheffield after Wednesday’s planned protests
When were the videos taken?
The videos shared by Tommy Robinson and his supporters mentioned above were not taken on Wednesday, August 7, following the aforementioned demonstration.
They were filmed on the afternoon of Sunday, August 4, and show a planned anti-hate protest moving through the city that was attended by more than 300 people.
What do the videos show?
The protest was in response to violence against Muslims following the Southport attacks that week, but would have formed at 12 noon in Sheffield before the worst of the violence at the riots at Holiday Inn Express in Manvers Way.
The protest on Sunday, August 4, in Barker’s Pool, saw next to no presence from anti-immigration protesters.
Where were the police?
This protest in Barker’s Pool was accompanied by police. One of the videos shows men walking down London Road in transit to the protest, without police.
South Yorkshire Police told The Star in a statement: “We were made aware of a pre-planned protest in Barkers Pool in Sheffield on Sunday 4 August. Officers were present in the area, to ensure the protest was able to take place both legally and safely.
“Shortly after midday, the protest group grew in size, with around 300 people in attendance. Further officers were brought into the area to assist in managing the protest.”
One video shows a very large number of people running towards the clocktower and Leopold Street, with no police on camera save for one police vehicle disappearing around the corner.
The video attached to the top of this story shows the events from a different angle, showing the movement of people through Barker’s Pool, and the attendance of dozens of police officers and vehicles.
The video shared by far-right accounts, however, shows Sheffield’s clocktower, showing the time as 2.10pm, shortly after the worst of the violence began in Rotherham.
According to eyewitnesses, this was the moment a large number of police departed the scene, and it is widely believed this was so they could be redeployed to the incident at Manvers Way.
People are seen running after the police leaving the scene in the video. An eye witness said the crowd walked back to Barker’s Pool shortly afterwards.
However, this video showing men running towards Leopold Street has been shared repeatedly to claim a “riot” was led by Muslims in Sheffield.
Were the men in the videos armed?
As to claims the men in the videos are carrying machetes, The Star has been unable to find evidence of this in the videos or from speaking to eyewitnesses who were at the protest on Sunday, and the presence of dozens of police officers would make this even more unlikely. Several men do appear to be holding short poles or wooden sticks, however.
Was anyone hurt or arrested?
As to any violence, SYP added: “Shortly before 1pm, an altercation occurred between a member of the protest group and a passerby.
“One person has been charged with affray in connection with Sunday’s protest in the Barker’s Pool area of Sheffield.”
The spokesperson added they were not aware of any injuries or arrests outside of this incident.
What was the impact?
At the time the videos were being circulated on X and falsely claimed to have been happening on August 7, Barker’s Pool outside Sheffield City Hall was empty.
Far-right supporters have tweeted these videos claiming a riot passed through Sheffield.
But the actual attendees to the protest on Sunday have attested there was no mass violence, no bladed weapons, and no rioting.
The clips shared by right-wing accounts have been used out of context, ascribed to the wrong day, and used to bolster Islamophobic sentiment with no evidence.