- First arrests of rioters in England
Just a few days after the start of severe right-wing riots in the UK, a court has handed down prison sentences to some of the troublemakers in its first ruling. A 58-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison by the Liverpool Crown Court. He had participated in riots in the northwest English town of Southport and punched a police officer in the face. The man, who lives in the city and lost his job after being charged, showed remorse in court.
A 29-year-old was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for setting fire to a police vehicle during riots in Liverpool. A 41-year-old must serve 20 months behind bars for his involvement in the riots in Liverpool and for insulting police officers. All three men admitted the charges, leading to a swift sentencing process.
Over 400 Arrests
The riots in several British cities were sparked by a stabbing incident in Southport. A 17-year-old is alleged to have killed three girls and injured other children and adults on July 29. False information spread on social media suggested that the suspect was a Muslim migrant. Police have emphasized that the suspect was born in the UK and his parents are from Rwanda.
Since the start of the riots, over 400 people have been arrested and around 100 charged. More verdicts are expected in the coming days.
Despite being involved in the riots in Liverpool, a group of individuals were not charged due to insufficient evidence. Some protests organizers, who were initially excluded from the charges, later had their involvement acknowledged and are now under investigation.
