LONDON, England: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a stern warning to far-right protesters on Sunday, stating they would “regret” their involvement in the worst rioting seen in England in 13 years. These disturbances, linked to the recent murder of three children, have erupted across the country. In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, masked anti-immigration demonstrators shattered windows at a hotel housing asylum seekers. This violence is fueled by misinformation about last Monday’s mass stabbing in Southport, a northwestern English seaside town, leading to clashes between anti-immigration protesters and police in several towns and cities.
The unrest poses a significant challenge for Starmer, who was elected just a month ago after leading Labour to a decisive victory over the Conservatives. In a televised address, Starmer declared, “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.” He emphasized that there was “no justification” for what he termed “far-right thuggery” and vowed to bring the perpetrators “to justice.”
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered near a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, where asylum seekers were housed. The rioters threw bricks at police, broke hotel windows, and set bins on fire. Sky News footage showed police officers with shields facing a barrage of missiles, including wood, chairs, and fire extinguishers. A police helicopter circled overhead, and at least one injured officer in riot gear was carried away as the situation escalated.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield condemned the violence, stating, “The behaviour we witnessed has been nothing short of disgusting. Those who simply stood on and watched remain absolutely complicit in this.” She emphasized that the police were reviewing extensive online footage to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Late on Sunday, Staffordshire Police reported that another hotel near Birmingham, known to shelter asylum seekers, was targeted. Rioters threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires, and targeted police, injuring one officer.
These incidents are part of a broader wave of rioting sparked by a stabbing rampage at a dance class in Southport last week, which left three girls dead and several injured. False rumors spread online that the 17-year-old suspect, British-born Axel Rudakubana, was a Muslim immigrant, fueling further unrest.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised a swift response, condemning the “far-right thuggery” that led to attacks on mosques and assaults on Muslims and ethnic minorities. “People in this country have a right to be safe, and yet we have seen Muslim communities targeted and attacks on mosques,” Starmer said. He assured those feeling targeted that the violent mob does not represent the country and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Starmer faced criticism for not denouncing the racist and Islamophobic nature of the attacks more vocally. Labour MP Zarah Sultana, suspended from the party for voting against the government, called for Parliament to be recalled from its summer break. Elsewhere in the UK, tensions remained high. In Middlesborough, protesters broke free of a police cordon, and in Bolton, police issued a dispersal notice to tackle antisocial behavior. Police officials reported that many actions were organized online by far-right groups using phrases like “enough is enough” and “save our kids.” These groups have been leveraging a narrative about the scale of immigration, amplified by right-wing media and commentators.
Since Saturday, over 150 people have been arrested in cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, Hull, and Belfast. Critics argue that the spread of misinformation and xenophobic rhetoric about immigrants has led to the violence. Professor Rosa Freedman from the University of Reading attributed the riots to the former Conservative government legitimizing a small minority of racists. She emphasized the need for a conversation about immigration from a human rights perspective.
Key figures in amplifying the far-right agenda include Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK. Yaxley-Lennon, with a history of legal troubles, has been linked to organizing violent protests. Even while Farage condemns the violence, he has criticized the government for attributing it to “a few far-right thugs” and implied that the actions of the far right are a reflection of a general public dread.
Anti-far-right group Hope Not Hate condemned the framing of the protests as “outpourings of legitimate anger,” labeling them as “racist violence spurred on by far-right hatred.” The group called for those involved in the violence to face the full force of the law and criticized media and political figures for stoking anti-Muslim and anti-asylum seeker hostility.
The recent events in the UK underscore the urgent need for a robust response to far-right extremism and a commitment to addressing the underlying issues of misinformation, xenophobia, and social division.
