London: A week ago, 3 girls were stabbed to death in a knife attack in Southport city of United Kingdom. The uproar that started after this incident is not stopping. There are reports of arson and clashes with the police in 17 cities of UK. Many people including protestors and policemen have been reported injured in the clashes.
On Sunday, right-wing protesters vandalized a hotel built for refugees in Rotherham city of Northern England. On Sunday, protesters in Rotherham city targeted a hotel called Holiday Inn Express. They broke the glass of many windows by throwing bottles while shouting slogans. 500 refugees are staying in this hotel.
In view of the situation, the government has now given a free hand to the police for action. Police have arrested more than 150 protesters in England and Northern Ireland. This is being described as the biggest riot in 13 years in Britain.
Given the seriousness of the matter, an emergency meeting has been called at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister, on Monday. Meanwhile, in a video message, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned this incident. He said that organized violence is being done in the name of protest.
I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we have seen this weekend.
Be in no doubt: those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law. pic.twitter.com/uNeJtD8pCQ
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 4, 2024
PM Starmer said that he would do whatever he had to do to send these ‘hooligans’ to jail. He said – “Police would make arrests, people would be kept on remand, charges would be filed and punishment would be given. I guarantee that you will regret being involved in this violence, whether you are directly involved in it or online.”
The PM said that anyone who is doing violence by looking at the color of the skin is an extreme right-winger. He added, “People in this country have the right to be safe. Despite this, we saw that Muslim communities were targeted. Mosques were attacked. All right-thinking people should condemn such violence.”
The suspect of Knife stabbing was born in Britain, according to police. CNN geolocated footage shows demonstrators attacking and burning two Holiday Inns in northern England on Sunday: one in Rotherham and one in Tamworth, which had previously been criticized by a local lawmaker for hosting asylum seekers. Local officials said that demonstrators in Tamworth injured one police officer by throwing projectiles, smashing windows, and starting fires.
Meanwhile, police in Rotherham reported that demonstrators broke windows, flung wooden planks, attacked policemen with fire extinguishers and set fire to other objects in an attempt to enter the premises.
Just weeks after taking office, Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces a formidable battle from the violent upheaval, which is the worst since the 2011 riots.
In reaction to recent attacks, the UK Home Office declared on Sunday that mosques would receive “greater protection with new emergency security” in the country.