British police brace for fresh riots
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned rioters they will face lengthy jail terms as he seeks to stamp out the worst outbreak of violence
Published: 04:08 PM,Aug 07,2024 | EDITED : 08:08 PM,Aug 07,2024
A man walks past closed businesses in the midst of unrest due to rioting across the country, in Manchester. — Reuters
LONDON: British police braced for further anti-migrant riots on Wednesday as far-right groups planned to target asylum centres and immigration lawyers nationwide, with the government pledging swift action to punish anyone involved in disorder.
Britain has been hit by escalating violence that erupted early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, triggering a wave of false messaging online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as a migrant.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former chief prosecutor who is facing his first crisis since winning a July 4 election, has warned rioters they will face lengthy jail terms as he seeks to stamp out the worst outbreak of violence in Britain in 13 years.
In the first sentences handed down since the rioting started, a 58-year-old man was jailed for three years for violent disorder, while two others, aged 41 and 29, were sentenced to 20 and 30 months respectively. 'This is the swift action we're taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law,' Starmer said.
Specialist immigration law firms and migrant support centres shut for the day and some family doctors services in areas affected by the protests said they would close early to protect their staff.
Messages also swirled on social media, with people with large online followings relaying police guidance and neighbourhood WhatsApp groups detailing areas to avoid.
In towns and cities, groups of a few hundred rioters have in recent days clashed with police and smashed windows of hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, chanting 'get them out' and 'stop the boats'.
Posts online said immigration centres and law firms aiding migrants would be targeted on Wednesday. In response, anti-racism and anti-fascist groups have organised counter protests in towns and cities across the country.
The government has put together a so-called 'standing army' of 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to any outbreaks of violence, and say they will have a big enough presence to deal with any unrest. London police chief Mark Rowley said that police plans had been based on the list of possible targets but they would be agile and prepared for other eventualities too. — Reuters
Britain has been hit by escalating violence that erupted early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, triggering a wave of false messaging online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as a migrant.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former chief prosecutor who is facing his first crisis since winning a July 4 election, has warned rioters they will face lengthy jail terms as he seeks to stamp out the worst outbreak of violence in Britain in 13 years.
In the first sentences handed down since the rioting started, a 58-year-old man was jailed for three years for violent disorder, while two others, aged 41 and 29, were sentenced to 20 and 30 months respectively. 'This is the swift action we're taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law,' Starmer said.
Specialist immigration law firms and migrant support centres shut for the day and some family doctors services in areas affected by the protests said they would close early to protect their staff.
Messages also swirled on social media, with people with large online followings relaying police guidance and neighbourhood WhatsApp groups detailing areas to avoid.
In towns and cities, groups of a few hundred rioters have in recent days clashed with police and smashed windows of hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, chanting 'get them out' and 'stop the boats'.
Posts online said immigration centres and law firms aiding migrants would be targeted on Wednesday. In response, anti-racism and anti-fascist groups have organised counter protests in towns and cities across the country.
The government has put together a so-called 'standing army' of 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to any outbreaks of violence, and say they will have a big enough presence to deal with any unrest. London police chief Mark Rowley said that police plans had been based on the list of possible targets but they would be agile and prepared for other eventualities too. — Reuters