United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Aug 4 issued a stark warning to far-right protesters, indicating that they would "regret" their involvement in the recent riots, which have been the most severe in England in 13 years.
The disturbances, which erupted following the murder of three children earlier in the week, have spread across the nation.
Protesters, many of whom were masked and oppose immigrants, vandalized a hotel in Rotherham, South Yorkshire of England, that had been housing asylum seekers.
The violence is linked to misinformation about a tragic mass stabbing incident that occurred on July 29 in Southport, a coastal town in northwestern England. This unrest has spread to various towns and cities, with anti-immigration demonstrators clashing with police forces.
This turmoil presents a significant challenge for Starmer, who was recently elected as Prime Minister after leading the Labour Party to a decisive victory over the Conservatives just a month ago.
"I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder. Whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves," Starmer said.
There was "no justification" for what he called "far-right thuggery," he added, promising to bring the perpetrators "to justice."
The unrest saw rioters in Rotherham attacking a Holiday Inn Express, breaking windows, and even pushing a burning bin into the building. While ten police officers sustained injuries, local authorities reported that neither the hotel's staff nor its guests were harmed.
In Middlesbrough of England, demonstrators clashed with riot police, hurling bricks, cans, and other objects. Protesters also vandalized media equipment, though journalists were not injured.
The violence has escalated since Aug 3, with over 150 arrests reported across several cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, Hull, and Belfast. Rioters have targeted police with bricks, bottles, and flares, resulting in injuries and significant property damage. Shops have been looted and set on fire, and anti-Islamic slurs have been directed at counter-protesters.
This wave of violence is the worst England has witnessed since 2011, which was marked by widespread rioting following the police shooting of a mixed-race man in north London. In response to the current protest, religious leaders from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Liverpool have jointly called for calm.
"We're now seeing it (trouble) flooding across major cities and towns," said Tiffany Lynch of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
The disturbances began in Southport on July 30, following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party. The situation worsened due to false rumors on social media about the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old British-born individual charged with the murder of three children and injuring ten others.
Authorities have linked the violence to supporters of the English Defence League (EDL), an anti-Islam group established 15 years ago that has ties to football hooliganism.
In response to attacks on mosques, the UK interior ministry has announced new emergency security measures for Islamic places of worship.
Far-right social media channels have organized rallies under the banner "Enough is enough," with participants waving English and British flags and chanting anti-migrant slogans like "Stop the boats," referring to irregular migration from France to Britain.
Anti-fascist groups have organized counter-protests in many cities. In Leeds, counter-protesters chanted, "Nazi scum off our streets," while far-right demonstrators retorted with, "You're not English anymore."
Not all gatherings have been marked by violence. A peaceful rally in Aldershot, southern England, saw participants holding signs with messages such as "Stop the invasion" and "We're not far right, we're just right."
"People are fed up with being told you should be ashamed if you're white and working class, but I'm proud white working class," 41-year-old Karina, one of the protesters, said.
The recent election saw the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, garner 14% of the vote, reflecting a significant share for a far-right British party. In light of the ongoing unrest, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the left-wing Green Party, urged all politicians to reconsider their stance on anti-immigration rhetoric, calling the violence a "wake-up call" for those who have promoted or succumbed to such sentiments.
