By UK police forces are grappling with widespread far-right riots across the country, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer strongly condemns what he calls “far-right thuggery” and vows swift justice for those involved. The unrest, which has seen violent clashes in multiple cities, comes in the wake of a stabbing rampage at a dance class that left three girls dead and several wounded.
In Rotherham, police struggled to contain hundreds of rioters attempting to break into a Holiday Inn Express hotel housing asylum seekers. Officers faced a barrage of missiles, including wood, chairs, and fire extinguishers. South Yorkshire Police reported at least 10 officers injured, with one left unconscious. Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield described the behavior as “nothing short of disgusting” and promised swift action against those involved.
The violence has spread to other parts of the country, with Middlesbrough witnessing protesters smashing windows of houses and cars in residential areas. When confronted by a resident, one rioter reportedly replied, “Because we’re English.” In Liverpool, about 300 people were involved in violent disorder, setting fire to a community facility and impeding firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Prime Minister Starmer, speaking from 10 Downing Street, promised that authorities would “do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” and warned that justice would be swift. He emphasized that the actions were not protests but organized, violent thuggery with no place on UK streets or online.
The riots appear to be fueled by false rumors spread online about the identity of the stabbing suspect. Despite Judge Andrew Menary ordering the identification of 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan parents, to counter misinformation, far-right groups have continued to mobilize support using anti-immigration rhetoric.
Key figures in amplifying these calls for protests include Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, a longtime far-right agitator with a significant online following. Nigel Farage, recently elected to parliament as leader of Reform UK, has also been criticized for indirectly encouraging anti-immigration sentiment, though he has condemned the violence.
The unrest has stretched police resources thin, with officers being pulled from day-to-day policing duties. Tiffany Lynch from the Police Federation of England and Wales warned that this could lead to other crimes not being fully investigated, impacting victims in communities across the country.
The government under Starmer has faced calls to bring in the army to assist police, but Policing Minister Diana Johnson stated that the police have made it clear they currently have all the resources they need. However, the ongoing violence and its spread across multiple cities suggest that the situation remains volatile and challenging for law enforcement.
Arabnews/AP
