“This is not protest, it is pure violence. We will not tolerate attacks on our mosques and our Muslim community”, said Keir Starmer today as he vowed to use “the full force of law” on all those who took part in the far-right thuggery that blighted Britain’s towns and cities over the weekend.
Almost 400 rioters have been arrested, some of whom appeared in court today, and the Prime Minister chaired an emergency Cobra meeting this morning to discuss ways to deal with racist mobs across the country, seeking to exploit the tragedy of last week’s Southport stabbing. Countries including Nigeria, Malaysia and Australia have begun issuing travel warnings for the UK amid the ongoing threat of violence.
Scenes in Rotherham last night were especially disturbing, as a mob surrounded a Holiday Inn Express while asylum seekers were housed inside. Men in balaclavas hurled rocks at riot police, knocking an officer unconscious, while one group of rioters set the building ablaze and attempted to block an emergency exit.
A hotel temporarily housing asylum seekers in Tamworth was also torched by rioters over the weekend, as was a children’s library in Liverpool and a Citizens Advice centre and police station in Sunderland. Mosques have been attacked in Liverpool, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hastings.
