S'poreans emerge from riot-hit Britain afraid but also hopeful

They are heartened by crowds rallying against racism, even as concerns remain

- Carmen Sin

As anti-racism demonstrators swarmed the streets of Britain and planned far-right rallies were abandoned, Singaporean Ayuni Hassan stepped tentatively out of her London flat on Aug 10.

It was her first foray outside in a week. "We ran out of groceries," the 30-year-old podiatrist said.

Ms Ayuni, who wears the hijab, had been "sheltering in place" at home since far-right riots erupted in parts of Britain in early August, alarmed by talk of thugs spitting at and ripping off the headscarves of Muslim women.

But the mobs, fires and nativist slogans that flared across dozens of English towns and cities in the first week of the month were overtaken by anti-racism protests by the second week.

At times verging on carnival-like, with singing and dancing, the counter-protests drew thousands of people all over England - from Newcastle to London and Bristol even as the director of public prosecutions warned of 10-year prison sentences for rioters.

For Ms Ayuni, the episode has ended on a note of hope.

"It's proof that the good people outnumber the bad," said Ms Ayuni, who has since reclaimed full freedom of movement.

Sheffield resident Natalie Chan is a little more uncertain about the climate.

"I thought it was more of a vocal minority at first, but after the violence in Rotherham, I think there's a lot of hate brewing," she said.