Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have scheduled a Cobra emergency response meeting today after a mob tried to storm two hotels housing asylum seekers yesterday amid widespread public disorder throughout the UK. The Prime Minister has warned rioters they would “regret” engaging in what he branded “far-right thuggery” and promised those involved in unrest would “face the full force of the law” as he addressed the nation last night.
Monday’s meeting is due to involve relevant ministers and police representatives who will discuss the response in the coming days to ensure there is no repeat of the violent scenes. The Home Office yesterday announced that mosques would be offered greater protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly tackle the threat of further attacks on places of worship.
In both Rotherham and Tamworth, anti-immigration rioters smashed the windows of the Holiday Inn Express before starting fires. At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police confirmed later, saying one person had already been arrested and others involved should “expect us to be at their doors very soon”.
Masked men hurled lengths of wood, chairs and bottles, and sprayed fire extinguishers at officers outside after some 700 people gathered. A similar incident occurred at a Holiday Inn hotel in Staffordshire, where asylum seekers are also believed to be housed.
People threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires and targeted officers, Staffordshire Police said.
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside a mosque in Middlesbrough on Sunday night and others have also been targeted. There were 43 arrests, and significant damage was caused to the Crown Court and the University, Cleveland Police said.
Public disorder has swept across the nation in the wake of the triple murder of three young girls stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. The anger has been fuelled by false rumours online that the perpetrator was a Syrian asylum seeker and a Muslim.
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