The UK’s premier Keir Starmer has organised a pressing security assembly today, aiming to suppress the wave of violence instigated by the far-right against immigrants, which has caused disturbances in various areas throughout the nation. Over the past weekend, there have been outbreaks of hostility in several cities and towns like Rotherham, Blackpool, and Bristol due to an Internet-based disinformation campaign. This campaign has been ongoing since a tragic occurrence a week ago in which three innocent little girls lost their lives. The extreme right-wing has falsely labelled the alleged assailant as a Muslim immigrant, causing unwarranted fear and hatred towards immigrants and Islam.
From Downing Street, Mr Starmer has termed the violent incidents as the actions of “far-right ruffians” and has assured that those involved will undergo the stringent application of the law. The prime minister’s itinerary today includes an urgent Cobra meeting with high-ranking ministers and top police personnel, as informed by a government representative.
Mr Starmer is also arranging for emergency court sessions, extending the working hours and even weekends for prosecutors to deal with the cases, and, if necessary, a reassignment of the police force.
The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has come forward with extra measures to safeguard mosques and has pledged full support to the police to handle the civil unrest. “Each and every person indulging in illegal chaos and violence on our streets will have to bear the consequences,” she said in a video uploaded to a platform.
Rotherham, South Yorkshire saw violent outbreaks on Sunday, with rioters attacking an asylum seekers’ accommodation in a hotel and instigating a fire, leading to injuries amongst approximately a dozen police officers. In what’s being described as the worst rioting documented in over a decade in England, about 150 arrests have been made so far.
Around 700 protesters assembled outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham and engaged in a face-off with the police. The mob resorted to throwing pieces of wood, bottles, and chairs at the police and using fire extinguishers as well. South Yorkshire police confirmed at least 10 officers sustained injuries, with one left unconscious due to a head injury.
Videos from the ground showed a rubbish bin in flames and protesters, a few of whom were wrapped in St George and union flags, indiscriminately shouting, “Get them out.” At one point, the group of protesters were seen storming into the hotel, setting fire to the interior, and bystanders watching the events unfold from windows.
Midday disturbances commenced at the Holiday Inn Express, instantly escalating into tumultuous scenes as a group of predominantly male, far-right agitators vandalised windows and set fire to a stairwell, temporarily overpowering the police.
Shabnam Shabir, a counter-protester, recounted her harrowing experience of being encircled by the mob chanting racial slurs. In her words, “The presence of the agitated far right was distressing. It was incredibly frightening.” Her car, parked by the hotel, was held captive until the rioters dispersed. In addition, she shared her worries for the terrified hotel residents.
Community tensions have been escalating since an incident on July 29th, which involved a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed party in Southport, located in the vicinity of Liverpool. Authorities have assured that the suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, is a UK-born individual, debunking erroneous social media narratives proposing he was a Muslim immigrant.
As per the Merseyside Police, around 300 individuals contributed to the unrest that canvassed the Walton region of Liverpool on Saturday night. The force, also overseeing Southport, reported arson at a local corner shop, library damage, and an object hurled at a fire brigade vehicle.
In Hull, protests also unfolded outside a refuge accommodating asylum seekers, leading to window breakages and bottle hurlings. Social media footage revealed many demonstrators calling to “stop the boats,” an allusion to the sea traversals of migrants from continental Europe intending to arrive in the UK.
Numerous police departments nationwide have rolled out so-called dispersal directives in an effort to dismantle and discourage the rioters. Unrest was also recorded in cities such as Leicester, Stoke-on Trent, Nottingham, Manchester and Middlesbrough, along with Belfast in Northern Ireland.