UK's Starmer vows far-right 'thugs' will 'regret' disorder
4 Min Read
The UK is grappling with the largest civil unrest in 11 years as Tiffany Lynch from the Police Federation of England and Wales reported that trouble was now "flooding" major UK cities and towns.
-
Demonstrators face police officers as trouble flares during an anti-immigration protest outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, on August 4, 2024. (AP)
UK authorities faced mounting pressure on Sunday to put a stop to England's worst rioting in 13 years, as disturbances involving far-right rioters erupted throughout the nation.
Violent clashes broke out between far-right protesters and police in central London late Wednesday following the spread of misinformation on social media determining that the Southport knife perpetrator was a Muslim man.
The violent protests were initiated on Tuesday in Southport after extremist far-right social media users falsely reported that the assailant in Monday's knife attack that killed three young girls and wounded multiple children at dance class was a Muslim immigrant.
The most recent incident occurred on Sunday in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, when masked anti-immigrant activists shattered many windows at a hotel that had been used to host asylum seekers.
Rioters threw bricks, bottles, and flares at police, injured several officers, looted and burned stores, and yelled anti-Islamic insults while clashing with counter-protesters.
Tiffany Lynch from the Police Federation of England and Wales reported that trouble was now "flooding" major UK cities and towns. Hundreds of additional cops have been deployed to attempt to curb the violence.
On Sunday, policing minister Diana Johnson told BBC News that rioting will "not be tolerated," while justice minister Shabana Mahmood stressed that convictions would soon be delivered.
The misinformation about the alleged identity of the Southport attacker was spread on social media by the English Defence League (EDL) and another far-right group called Britain First. In addition, the key factor enabling disinformation is the reinstatement of far-right activist and founder of the EDL Tommy Robinson on X, following his six-year ban from the online platform.
The events have been publicized on far-right social media sites under the slogan "Enough is enough" as aggressors have attacked mosques in Southport and Sunderland, prompting hundreds of Islamic centers to beef up security due to concerns about the safety of worshippers.
Participants hoisted English and British flags while chanting slogans such as "Stop the Boats," which refers to illegal migrants traveling from France to Britain.
Anti-fascist activists have organized counter-rallies in various locations, including Leeds, where they screamed, "Nazi scum off our streets," while far-right protesters chanted, "You're not English anymore."
Rioters 'will pay the price' amid anti-Muslim protests: UK government
Rioters will "pay the price" amid violent clashes sparked by nationwide anti-Muslim protests, UK ministers warned on Saturday following violent confrontations in the past week between police and demonstrators, considered the worst outbreak of civil disorder in Britain in over a decade.
“Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, emphasizing the government's full support for law enforcement to take the strongest possible action.
"Anyone who gets involved in criminal disorder and violent thuggery on our streets will have to pay the price and they should expect there to be arrests, prosecutions, penalties, and the full force of the law including imprisonment and travel bans. There are consequences for breaking the law," she added.
Newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer's new government is ultimately facing a major issue of implementing emergency powers to prevent the escalation of violence and to recall parliament throughout the country.
Starmer on Sunday addressed Britain and expressed that rioters would "regret" the violence and vowed, "We will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice."
Given that at least 19 far-right protests are scheduled to take place across England in the coming days, police have been asked to increase their patrols outside mosques and asylum-seeker accommodations.
Community leaders expressed their growing dread of more chaos on Thursday, following the targeting of mosques and asylum seeker accommodations by groups of “intimidating” demonstrators.
