Starmer condemns ‘Far-Right Thuggery’ Following Violence

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to use the full force of the law against “far-right thuggery” after violent incidents erupted across several towns and cities on Sunday. Starmer condemned the actions of “marauding gangs intent on law-breaking” and promised to bring those involved to justice.

In Rotherham, a group of 700 people surrounded a Holiday Inn Express hotel, where they set a fire, smashed windows, and entered the building where asylum seekers were staying. Riot police responded to similar violent scenes in Middlesbrough, Bolton, Hull, Weymouth, and other parts of the UK.

The unrest follows a sixth day of escalating violence in response to the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport last week. Addressing the nation, Starmer emphasized the right of people to feel safe and condemned the targeting of Muslim and minority communities, attacks on mosques, and the display of Nazi salutes, labeling the actions as “far-right thuggery.”

Since Saturday, authorities have made 147 arrests. In Rotherham, at least ten police officers were injured, with one officer left unconscious after being hit by planks of wood and sprayed with fire extinguishers by anti-immigration demonstrators, according to South Yorkshire Police. The officer sustained a head injury, and two others are suspected of having broken bones. Despite the chaos, no injuries were reported among hotel employees and residents, many of whom are asylum seekers. One individual has been arrested on suspicion of public order offenses.

In Weymouth, Dorset, 600 people from opposing sides gathered on the seafront. While police noted “a small number of low-level incidents,” one man was arrested for a public order offense. In Bolton, anti-immigration protesters faced a group of up to 300 masked individuals chanting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”). Greater Manchester Police issued a Section 60AA order requiring the removal of face coverings used to disguise appearance, in effect until 10 pm on Sunday.

The Home Office announced new measures to offer mosques greater protection, allowing for “rapid security” deployment to enable a swift return to worship. Starmer suggested that the response to the current violence might echo the measures taken during the 2011 riots, at which time he served as director of public prosecutions. “We do have standing arrangements for law enforcement which means that we can get arrests… and convictions done very quickly,” he stated.

Ministers have proposed the possibility of courts sitting 24 hours to fast-track prosecutions, similar to 2011, while police forces are prepared to deploy additional officers to manage potential unrest.