UK anti-immigration riots worsen, mob breaks into hotel housing asylum seekers

VIOLENCE SWEEPS UK | LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• A large group of far-right protesters, with many draped in British flags and chanting nationalist slogans, gathered at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, where a significant number of asylum seekers are accommodated. The situation rapidly escalated as the mob began throwing projectiles at police, smashing windows, and eventually forcing their way into the building and setting it on fire.

• The riots were sparked by the rapid spread of misinformation surrounding a fatal stabbing incident at a children’s dance class in Southport, falsely claiming the suspect to be a Muslim immigrant. Violent protests involving hundreds of anti-immigration protesters have erupted in towns and cities across Britain.

• On Sunday, apart from Rotherham, cities like Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Bolton, Hull, Southport, and Middlesbrough, among many other places, saw violence at varying levels, according to a BBC report. In Middlesbrough, one of the hotspots, the mob torched a car, damaged many vehicles and houses, and targeted a town hall. They also threw cans and bottles at police officers and shops.

• In both Rotherham and the north-west town of Lancaster, there were anti-racist counterprotesters. The police were seen struggling to keep the two groups apart.

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is facing a major test immediately after taking charge a month ago, vowed strict action. He called Sunday’s scenes in Rotherham “marauding gangs intent on law-breaking and nothing else.” He asserted that the “violent mob does not represent our country” and said: “If you target people because of the color of their skin or faith, that is far-right and I’m prepared to say so.”

  “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, either directly or those whipping up this disorder online,” he warned.

• Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned the developments, saying, “Violent and criminal behavior has no place in our society.” He said that the “shocking scenes” on the streets of Britain have “nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport”.

  “The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly, and they must face the full weight of the law,” he added.

• The government has announced increased protection for mosques across the country, as the attackers targeted places of worship across England and Northern Ireland. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said £29.4m (Rs 315 crore) of funding is being offered to provide greater protection for mosques.

• UK police are taking measures to deal with the situation in many areas including Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Southport. Police said that extra powers have now been given to the force, allowing them to stop and search people in defined areas within a specific timeframe. “A section 60AA authority allows us to require people to remove face coverings used to disguise or conceal their appearance,” police said, as masked men unleashed violence.

• Saturday was another violent day, with far-right activists clashing with anti-racism protesters across the UK. Violent scenes were reported from Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, to Liverpool in the northwest of England, and Bristol in the west. Nearly 100 people were arrested in multiple locations.

• According to police, the mob attacks and violence were organized online by shadowy far-right groups, mobilizing support with phrases like “enough is enough,” “save our kids,” and “stop the boats.” The internet is flooded with anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant content by far-right groups, who aim to take advantage of the Southport stabbing.