The British government is mobilizing 6,000 special forces against right-wing extremist groups.
"We will ensure that everyone sentenced to imprisonment due to the riots and chaos will also have a place in prison," said the Minister of Justice. According to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), 378 people have been arrested so far.
In Plymouth, six people were arrested on Monday. Several police officers were injured when rioters attacked them with bricks and fireworks. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, police were attacked when rioters tried to set fire to a foreigner's business. A man in his 30s was seriously injured in the riots, and the incident is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime, police said.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously announced a tough stance by the government. As part of a series of measures, the criminal justice system will be strengthened to ensure swift prosecution, Starmer said after a cabinet crisis meeting. Additionally, a "army" of specially trained police officers will be ready to support local forces in case of further unrest.
The disturbances began after a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, last week, where three children were killed and ten others injured. The suspect entered a building where a summer dance class for children to Taylor Swift's music was taking place.
The attack shocked the whole country. False information quickly circulated online, claiming that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. However, the police stated that the suspect was a 17-year-old born in Wales. According to British media, the young man's parents are from Rwanda.
Immediately after the incident, violent clashes by far-right groups occurred in Southport, which quickly spread to other cities. The protests were promoted on far-right media channels under the slogan "Enough is enough."
The British government pointed to the responsibility of online networks. The Ministry of Justice sharply criticized Elon Musk, who wrote on his online service X that a "civil war is inevitable" in Britain. "That's completely irresponsible," said Justice Minister Alexander. "I think everyone should call for calm," she emphasized.
The British police hold supporters of the so-called English Defence League, an anti-Islam organization founded 15 years ago with connections to the hooligan scene, responsible for the violence.
In response to the escalating violence, the government has decided to deploy their special forces to aid local police forces in maintaining order. The special forces will work alongside the army of specially trained officers previously announced by Prime Minister Starmer.
