- London wants to crack down on right-wing riots
The British government is set to tackle the violent riots of far-right extremists in the country with a firm hand. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced after a Cobra crisis meeting that he would establish a "standing army of specialized officers" to deal with the unrest. Additionally, the prosecution process will be expedited.
According to the National Police Chiefs' Council, there have been a total of 378 arrests since the disturbances began a week ago. Several people have already been charged and are in custody.
The far-right troublemakers are using the deadly stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport near Liverpool last Monday as a pretext. Three girls were killed and eight children and two adults were injured in the attack, according to Merseyside Police. One child is still being treated in hospital, while the other patients have been discharged.
False news has been circulating online suggesting that the attacker was an asylum seeker with a Muslim name. The police have refuted this. The attacker is a 17-year-old born in the UK, whose parents are from Rwanda. The motive for the attack is unknown.
Starmer added that the rioters should be publicly named and shamed: "I have asked for the individuals to be named as soon as possible. They will feel the full force of the law." In recent days, there have been several incidents of police officers being injured, vehicles set on fire, and buildings attacked during the riots in English cities and the Northern Irish capital, Belfast.
Over the weekend, two hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers were targeted. Hundreds of rioters gathered outside a hotel in Rotherham in South Yorkshire on Sunday, smashed windows, and set fires. A police spokesperson described it as a "particularly disgusting moment when a bin was pushed against the hotel and set on fire, clearly intended to cause significant harm to the residents and staff." The police were also attacked with projectiles. Similar scenes unfolded at a hotel in Tamworth near Birmingham on Sunday evening.
Rioters also targeted mosques. The Home Office has announced that it will provide better protection for the places of worship.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper also announced a tough stance against criminal behavior online. She told Sky News that the organization of riots, the escalation of tensions, and the spread of misinformation had been significantly aided by social media. She added that they would also be taking action against those who posted criminal material and ensure that social media companies take responsibility.
A government spokesperson declined to comment on the activities of convicted far-right extremist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, who is considered the most prominent far-right figure in the UK and stokes prejudices on social media. However, they did not rule out the possibility that state actors could be behind the spread of disinformation by bots on the internet.
For the newly appointed Prime Minister, who has been in office for only a month, the riots are his first major test. Starmer appears well-equipped for the challenge, having served as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) when English cities were rocked by severe riots in August 2011.
Unlike today, the disturbances were not right-wing extremist in nature. The trigger was fatal police shootings of a man of Irish-Jamaican descent. The riots began in London and spread to other major cities. Several people died.
At the time, courts were in session 24/7 to expedite trials for suspects. This is being considered again now, but no decision has been made, according to a government spokesperson. Both the justice system and prisons are currently severely overloaded.
No military deployment planned
Requests for military deployment, including from former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, have been rejected by the government. This was not discussed at the Cobra meeting, the spokesperson said. Neither is recalling MPs from their summer recess currently a topic.
Criticism of the government came from former Home Secretary James Cleverly of the opposition Conservatives, who is currently running for the leadership of the Tory party following the election defeat four weeks ago. Cleverly told Sky News that the Cobra meeting was convened too late. He stressed that the rioters do not represent the open and tolerant country.
Right-wing populist and Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage also condemned the violence in a statement, after previously expressing understanding for the rioters' grievances in a video.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated his stance on publicly identifying and punishing the rioters, stating, "I have requested the individuals to be named as soon as possible. They will face the full consequences of their actions." In light of the targeted attacks on asylum seeker facilities and mosques, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced increased security measures for places of worship, ensuring the safety of all communities.
