Sir Keir Starmer issued a stark warning to racist far-right thugs rioting in British towns and cities with a “guarantee” they will face swift justice and “the full force of the law.”
In an uncompromising statement to the nation, the prime minister addressed those behind the appalling scenes in Hull, Halifax, Liverpool, London, Southport, and Rotherham: “I guarantee, you will regret it.”
The Prime Minister’s powerful statement came as a mob stormed a hotel full of asylum seekers waiting for their applications to be heard in Rotherham and set fire to it, knowing people were inside.
Violent thugs in balaclavas draped in St George flags hurled chairs and set off fire extinguishers at police outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, a suburb in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Sunday afternoon.
The anti-immigrant hooligans chanted “Get them out,” “You’re not welcome anymore,” and “Yorkshire” as they encouraged each other to attack the hotel.
Another young group of men held a banner saying: “Stopping the boats means stopping the stabbings,” and other offensive chants could be heard targeting Muslims and immigrants.
The group smashed windows to get inside the hotel at one point, before setting fire to bins and furniture.
Later on Sunday evening, a far-right mob threw missiles, smashed windows, started fires, and clashed with police at another Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Meanwhile, in Middlesbrough, further violent disorder took place, with damage caused to the Crown Court and the University, Cleveland Police said.
A group of rioters in Middlesbrough smashed the windows of houses and cars and threw objects at officers on Sunday afternoon, with one seen shouting a racial slur.
Just after Sir Keir made his statement, the Home Office revealed that extra support is being offered to protect mosques and other potential hot spots around the country as the crisis engulfing the nation appeared to grow.
Mob To Face The Law
As police kettled the mob in a stand-off outside the hotel, the Prime Minister said that they “are not protesters” and made it clear that their racist behavior “will not be tolerated.”
“Be in no doubt, those that have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law,” he said.
“The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand, charges will follow, and convictions will follow. I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves. This is not a protest, it is organized, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.”
Keir Starmer
The violence has hit towns and cities around the UK since misinformation was used to inflame tensions following the murder of three girls and the attempted murder of seven others in Southport.
False claims that the alleged attacker was on a watchlist and Muslim were used to stir up far-right mobs who descended on the grieving seaside town in Merseyside last week and besieged a local mosque before setting fire to a police car and throwing rocks at police officers.
Addressing the harrowing scenes in Rotherham, local MP Sarah Champion condemned the action of the protesters.
“I’m extremely concerned at the escalating violence we are seeing at Holiday Inn, Manvers. The people causing damage and attacking police do not represent our town and I am disgusted by their actions. This is criminal disorder and intimidation – not protest.”
Sarah Champion
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also appeared to give the green light to the police to use tough measures.
READ ALSO: Franklin Cudjoe Questions “Founders’ Day” Legitimacy
