1734 Meckelnburgh riots

The 1734 Meckelnburgh riots were a series of violent public protests and terrorist bombings in major cities throughout the United Kingdom of Meckelnburgh starting on 9.Marche/IV.1734 AN and lasting through 11.Marche/IV. The carnage consisted of vandalism, violent assaults and arson throughout the streets of Meckelnburgh, particularly in Alexandretta, Victoria and St. Cloud in Meckelnburgh, and Fenixtune in Iselande. The primary targets of mob anger were institutions and individuals related to the Raspur Pact or its member states.

The escalation of violence by the demonstrations accented by a series of fatal bombings on the morning of 11.Marche/IV resulted in the deployment of the uniformed services of Meckelnburgh to Alexandretta and other cities, before mob violence was suppressed that afternoon and patrols were posted throughout the kingdom. The riots and attacks over three days resulted in over 20 deaths and Ʀ100 million in damage. The Ministry of Justice reported an uptick in property crimes remaining over a week after the riots were quelled.

Background

Anti-Raspur Pact sentiments in Meckelnburgh, particularly in the constituent country of Iselande, have simmered at various heats since the early 1700s AN.

Port Balaine and The Troubles

The Florian invasion of Port Balaine, when then-Raspur Pact member Floria invaded and conquered Port Balaine in a move widely condemned as a war of aggression, was a divisive event in Meckelnburghish politics. Involvement and aid from the Raspur Pact in the invasion remains a widely debated question. While sanctions were immediately placed on Floria, the continuation of sanctions developed into the "Florian Question" for over a decade. Eventually, it led to the collapse of the longest-ruling Meckelnburgh administration in the Election of 1723 and the sanctions were repealed—a controversial decision in Meckelnish society.

The greatest influence on Meckelnish minds was The Troubles (1707–1709 AN). The Troubles were a violent ecological and military event that led to the destruction of Jääland and the peninsula annexed by Meckelnburgh. Prior to installing the Meckelnburgh administration, the capital of Jääland, Hellistelli, was destroyed in an orbital bombardment carried out by the Apollonia Command of the Raspur Pact after Pact members' investments were evacuated. Thousands of inhabitants perished and the city entered a dark winter until rescued by naval infantry of the Royal Meckelnburgh Navy. After protests for compensation by the Meckelnburgish government were made to the Raspur Pact via representatives of Nouvelle Alexandrie, the Pact informed the kingdom that the destruction of the Jääkeli people was deserved.

Prior to the 1734 AN riots, surveys conducted by the University of Alexandretta on a semiregular basis found up to 84% of Iselanders and 61% of all Meckelners reported "disapproval" to "hatred" of the Raspur Pact. Nevertheless, surveys found positive opinions when member states were queried individually, highest for Nouvelle Alexandrie up to 73%—topping the list of national opinion over multiple years. In 1728 AN, Queen Ĉielero III gave assent to a resolution by Parliament declaring the treatment of the Jääkeli people in The Troubles a genocide. The Troubles National Memorial was opened on the burned-out grounds of former Hellistelli International Airport shortly after, and is managed by the Royal Parks Service.

Nuclear wars of 1733 AN

The simmering distrust in Meckelnish society of the Raspur Pact developed into violent hatred in the shadow of 1733 AN. In Septembre/XI, on the continent of Benacia, the Shiro-Benacian Cold War erupted into the Streïur uis Faïren between the Benacian Union and Shireroth The conflict resulted in the launch of countless nuclear devices at the cost of millions of lives. Both warring nations were members of the Raspur Pact. In the aftermath, six nations—all current or former members of the Raspur Pact—met for the Dorado Convention. The stated goals of the convention were to develop a comprehensive approach to nuclear disarmament, and the Micras Disarmament Commission was established in Februarie/II.1734 AN for that purpose.

The failure of the Dorado Convention to include nations outside the Raspur Pact sphere of influence led to numerous suspicions of its motives. Specific criticisms against the MDC members included the Florian war of aggression into Port Balaine, the continued flippant denial by Nouvelle Alexandrie of the genocide in Jääland, and the betrayal of the Xäiville Convention by Oportia in favor of the Raspur Pact.

Events

Early protests on 9-10.IV

In Meckelnburgh, the nuclear conflagration resulted in demands for greater militarization. Shortly after the MDC was announced, on 22.Februarie/II, the Meckelnburgh Royalist Party demanded initiatives for national security:

@RoyalPartyMB While empires talk of convenient peace accords the smaller nations face antihalation daily. @ChancellorMB must reinforce our shores against the imperial savages of Micras.

Midday on 9.Marche/IV, the Parliament of Meckelnburgh passed the enabling act for the Three in Three Program, a three-year program designed to increase defense spending and recover a perceived deficit in the kingdom's self-defense apparatuses. The move was celebrated by some in stronger terms than others. Around 1300, after its deputies voted unanimously in favor of the program, the New Revolutionary Party posted to Tweeter that:

@RevolutionMB The #Fascists will never allow peace. The Micras (dis)Armament Commission is an imperial dog and pony show run by the most wanted criminals on Micras. de Montluc [Inspector-General of the MDC] should try inspecting some history books instead.

Following the Party's Tweet, a number of left-wing activists gathered in King Vihelmo IV Square in Alexandretta to criticize the MDC, its connections to the Raspur Pact, and support the expanded defense initiative. One student from the City College of Alexandretta was quoted by the Royal Meckelnburgh Broadcasting Corporation, saying "Love and willingness to die for Meckelnburgh is the only thing protecting us from the Imperial Bourgeoisie." After the close of business day at 1700, office workers leaving work in downtown Alexandretta joined in the still-calm demonstrations, while a number of Iselanders shouted slurs against the various Raspur Pact members.

Riots break out on 10.IV

Over the evening, the Meckelnburgh Cyber & Information Service Corps documented an increase in violent rhetoric on Tweeter from accounts self-registered as Iselanders. The note went without further action. The next morning, 10.Marche/IV, many workers and residents in Alexandretta skipped work and attended demonstrations in Downtown and Cannery Warf wards to air historical grievances against the Raspur Pact. Demonstrators demanded that the Meckelnburgish government reject the MDC initiative as a scam and avenue for further Raspur Pact control over world security. The RMBC reported that morning:

@RMBC Large protest activity warns @ALXOfficial in Downtown and Cannery Warf Wards. Protestors seen with signs "#NeverForget Jaaland", "#NeverForget Port Balaine". One Iselandic protestor interviewed: "I survived The Troubles. I didn't live after losing my children for the same fuckers to talk to me about world peace. Fuck the MDC and fuck the Pact!"

Late in the afternoon of 10.Marche/IV, daughter of the late renowned Meckelnish painter, Lucienne Arthur, added her statement:

@BArthurOfficial The last time I heard Nouvelle Alexandrie talk about weapons of mass destruction it was to laugh at killing my mom. I don't trust them to give away one nuke unless I watch them dig up Manco Capac's corpse [late King of Nouvelle Alexandrie during The Troubles], strap it to the bomb, and drop it on downtown Cardenas.

Unsubstantiated rumors on Tweeter shortly began circulating that officials at the highest levels of government in Nouvelle Alexandrie had read the post in conference and mocked it. Thousands of additional demonstrators then went to the streets in Alexandretta in anger with smaller protests growing in Victoria, St. Cloud and Fenixtune—the heart of Raspur Pact hatred. Universal amongst the protestors was anger and frustration over the Raspur Pact's continued disrespect towards the genocide of The Troubles. However, the satirical news organization Sans Reportage mocked demonstrators who appeared to know little beyond what they read online:

@SansReportage Area man protesting outside Vegnese embassy 15 minutes after remembering nation exists. "I can't find them on a map, but I know I don't like them." At press time, the intoxicated man realized he was standing outside the Lac Glacei mission next door.

During the afternoon, a makeshift stage erected in King Vihelmo IV Square became a growing hive of scathing and violent rhetoric, the RMBC recording one speaker as screaming "I'd like to give a New Alexandrian something to cry about!" Near sunset, a final speaker took the stage carrying a bag and a glass bottle. After saying nothing, the speaker unfurled a chain of flags for Floria, Nouvelle Alexandrie, Oportia, Natopia and Vegno, and set them ablaze. The speaker then shouted "Fuck the Pact, it's time to act!", lit the glass bottle and threw it through the window of a nearby parked car where it exploded into fire. The speaker jumped into the audience as the assembled mass began to riot.

Violence engulfs Alexandretta

Starting at 1900, roving bands of rioters, estimated at 4000 people, descended into the streets in downtown Alexandretta. Countless vehicles were vandalized, windows smashed and at least 13 storefronts set ablaze. The Alexandretta Fire Brigade, under the nominal command of the Royal Meckelnburgh Saeweard, developed a rear perimeter to the marches as King Vihelmo IV Square was closed by the Royal Alexandretta Constabulary.

Messages of “Go the fuck home!” were spray painted on businesses purported to sell foodstuffs or imports from Nouvelle Alexandrie or Vegno, with dubious accuracy. At least one person wearing the colors of the royal House of Meckelnburgh-Serkwais—orange, blue and white—was beaten by rioters with tree sticks as a purported Vegnese citizen. The live reporting by the RMBC of the riots was cut after journalists dodged a stampede in front of Enolany Palace. Over the next four hours, rioters dispersed throughout the city, leaving waves of vandalism in their wake. A final group of 1200 people marched to the shores of the Lower Alexandria River before making camp for the night.

The Royal Alexandretta and national Constabularies performed over 350 arrests by midnight for various felonies and settled into monitoring the encamped protestors.

Bombings of 11.IV

On the morning of 11.Marche/IV, at 0640, Alexandretta awoke to three massive explosions in the Downtown and Albioch Wards, including one at the terminus of Embassy Row. CCTV identified multiple black-hooded perpetrators appearing in vans over the early morning hours. The bombings were followed by an explosion at 0650 in the International District of Fenixtune. Sixteen people in Alexandretta and five in Fenixtune died in the blasts.

The rioters camped in western Alexandretta regrouped and by 0700 overran the barricades of the Constabulary. At 0715, Chancellor Masterman Gibbs ordered the mobilization of the 1st Army Division of the Meckelnburgh National Guard and 3rd Expeditionary Task Force of the Royal Navy to Alexandretta. The Ministry of Defense announced on Tweeter:

@DefenseMB SHELTER IN PLACE -- The Royal Navy's 3rd Expeditionary Task Force is being deployed to Alexandretta in response to day-long violent protests plaguing the city. -- DO NOT TRAVEL EXCEPT IN EMERGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

The 4th Army Division also deployed into Fenixtune, quelling a group of 150 screaming protestors gathering in front of city hall and throwing rocks. Forts St. Cloud and Victoria began to patrol around the consulates of Nouvelle Alexandrie after multiple assaults were reported to the Ministry of Justice in the area.

Suppression of riots

Queen Ĉielero III appeared on a simulcast between the RMBC and MB-TV at 0735 calling for calm and the end to senseless violence. The Queen described the riots as “one of the darkest days in Meckelnburgh history,” and “the violation of all national principles of peace and justice of our last 50 years.” About 300 protesters left the riots after the Royal Alexandretta Constabulary broadcast the message over crowd-control loudspeakers.

By 0900, 1500 naval infantrymen from the Royal Navy task force were disembarking in Cannery Warf. The remaining rioting bands, which shortly before reached Alexandretta Habor, began to panic. One unarmed throng of rioters charged the gathering columns and were shortly taken into custody. An additional group set a warehouse of computers and mobile phones on fire while a third broke into local businesses and barricaded themselves inside. One dockworker died in the blaze.

The Royal Navy spent the following seven hours encircling Cannery Warf and intercepting fleeing rioters while guarding emergency services responding to the destruction. More than 700 protestors were taken into custody and held in various warehouses and empty factories along the waterfront. Finally, at 1630, the last rioters had been dispersed or arrested and fires extinguished. The three days of chaos resulted in an estimated Ʀ115 million in damages to property, hundreds of injuries and 22 deaths of Meckelnburgh citizens from arson and bombings by unidentified terrorists.

Aftermath

On the morning of 12.Marche/IV, Chancellor Gibbs held a press conference condemning the riots as "the greatest betrayal of our longest friends and allies," and as quoted by the RMBC:

@RMBC Chancellor Gibbs gives press conference, “The recent tragedy is an affront to human decency perpetuated by individuals with basal brains and the emotional regulation of kinderen. The wrongs of the world are not solved by breeding terrorists at home.” Man detained by constabulary after throwing shoe at podium.

The New Revolutionary Party also issued a statement denying responsibility for the destruction, saying "we are not responsible for what the People do with the truth." The statement was widely panned, including a three-page scathing editorial in the Alexandretta Times.

The result of the spontaneous and heinous violence of the 1734 AN riots deeply disturbed Meckelnish society in a nation with no history of mass violence or terrorism and reports only an average 40 to 50 annual homicides. The arrests resulted in a temporary rise of over 20% in the Meckelnburgh prison population—the kingdom having a capacity of 8,000. An ad hoc tribunal of 20 jurists was formed in Alexandretta to process the over 1000 charged offenses resulting from the riots. However, no leads into the perpetrators of the bombings of Alexandretta and Fenixtune materialized, and a Ʀ100,000 reward is outstanding for information leading to an arrest.

On 1.Apprile/V, a Special Commission on the Violence of 1734 was established in the College of Lords.

International reactions

•  Benacian Union: The Benacian Union, whilst noting that the disorders were a purely internal matter for the kingdom, did feel obliged on the occasion to share a note of warning that, in view of the present hostilities with Shireroth, it would regrettably impossible to categorically guarantee the safety of Meckelnburghish shipping operating in international waters through the Northern Sea.