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London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday vowed “swift criminal sanctions” against far-right riots in several cities, which caused widespread damage, nearly 400 arrests and saw new clashes break out overnight.
Starmer summoned ministers and police chiefs to discuss the unrest that has broken out since the stabbing of three children in Southport, northwest England last Tuesday.
Over the weekend, rioters in several cities threw bricks and flares, attacked police, burned and looted stores, smashed windows of cars and homes, and attacked at least two hotels housing asylum seekers.
Starmer told media after Monday’s meeting that the government would “step up criminal justice efforts” to ensure “sanctions are implemented swiftly”.
He said a “standing army” of specially trained police officers was ready to be deployed to support local forces if further unrest broke out.
Tensions were reignited Monday night at multiple demonstrations across the country, but the violence was less intense than at the weekend.
Sky News It showed a tense standoff between far-right protesters and counter-demonstrators in the southwestern city of Plymouth, during which objects were thrown.
Police at the segregated rally reported “an incident of violence against police officers in Plymouth” and that a police car was damaged.
Police added on X: “Action is being taken against individuals with criminal intent. Arrests are in progress.”
Sky It was also reported that one of the company’s vehicles was attacked by a man with a knife in Birmingham.
Hundreds of people arrested
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 378 people had been arrested so far and others would be “brought to justice”.
NPCC chair, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, added: “I want to reassure the public that the policing response across the country is unified and robust and we are doing everything we can to tackle this mess.”
The day before, clashes broke out in Southport after three girls were killed and five children were seriously injured in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Rumors initially circulated on social media that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. The suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales. British media reported that his parents were from Rwanda, where there are few Muslims.
However, this has not stopped mosques from being targeted, and the government has introduced new emergency security for Islamic places of worship.
Anti-immigrant demonstrators and thugs clashed with police and counter-protesters, including Muslim groups, and arrests were made across the country.
The British prime minister warned rioters on Sunday that they would “regret” taking part in the worst riots in England for 13 years. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC On Monday, Trump said “there will be a reckoning.”
Cooper also said that social media provided a “rocket booster” for violence, while Starmer stressed that “criminal law applies both online and offline.”
Police blamed the violence on elements associated with the now-defunct English Defence League, an anti-Islamic group founded 15 years ago whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism.
In one of the most serious scenes on Sunday, masked thugs in Rotherham, northern England, smashed the windows of a hotel used to house asylum seekers.
South Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Superintendent Lindsay Butterfield told the media that at least 12 police officers were injured, one of whom was knocked unconscious, during a shootout with about 500 protesters holding “extreme right-wing and anti-immigrant views.”
National violence
There were also riots in Bolton in northwest England and Middlesbrough in northeast England, where thugs smashed windows of houses and cars, leading to 43 arrests.
Protesters seized and smashed AFP The crew and journalists were not injured.
The violence is a major challenge for Starmer, whose Labour Party defeated the Conservatives in a landslide victory.
MPs from all parties have urged Starmer to recall parliament from its summer break to discuss the worst violence in England since 2011 riots sparked by the killing of a mixed-race man by police in London.
Far-right social media channels promoted the rally with the slogan “Enough.”
Participants waved English and British flags while chanting slogans such as “Stop illegal immigrants from landing” – a reference to illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel from France to the UK.
Anti-fascist demonstrators held counter-rallies in many cities.
In last month’s election, the Reform UK party, led by Brexit supporter Nigel Farage, won 14% of the vote, one of the largest shares ever achieved by a far-right party in Britain.
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