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Police are preparing for fresh anti-Muslim and anti-migrant demonstrations across the United Kingdom following days of violence and riots across the country in the wake of a knife attack last week that was incorrectly attributed to an illegal migrant, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The government has mobilized a “standing army” of 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to potential violence and protect targeted areas. Authorities have expressed concern about online messages showing that immigration centers and law firms assisting migrants are to be targeted.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that rioters would face the “full force of the law,” while anti-racism and anti-fascist groups have organized counter-demonstrations to oppose the far-right actions.

The unrest began early last week after a 17-year-old attacked a dance class in Southport, northwest England, killing three girls and wounding others. Misinformation online labeled the attack as a refugee or Islamist migrant, but authorities later said the alleged perpetrator was born in the UK and has Rwandan heritage.

Even so, far-right and anti-immigrant groups launched a series of demonstrations in various cities, attacking hotels housing asylum seekers and mosques, as well as clashing with police.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported this week that more than 120 people have been charged and 428 arrested in connection with the riots. Some involved have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 20 months to three years.

The riots are considered the worst outbreak of violence in the UK in more than a decade, and have left many of the Muslim and minority ethnic communities feeling fearful and targeted.

They have also posed a major challenge for Starmer, just a month after his Labour Party won the parliamentary elections in a landslide, CNN wrote.

Analysts told the broadcaster that the violence also reflects deeper social tensions and the growing influence of far-right ideologies in the UK. The July 4 election results showed increasing support for right-wing parties with anti-immigration platforms, such as Reform UK, which came third in the elections in terms of votes cast.

Meanwhile, social media platforms have also come under scrutiny for allowing the spread of misinformation, prompting officials and politicians to demand tech companies take more responsibility in moderating content.

Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), added to the controversy after saying that “civil war is inevitable.” His statement drew condemnation from UK leaders who emphasized the need for responsible use of social media platforms, CNBC added.