UK riots LIVE: Starmer calls emergency Cobra meeting | UK | News
Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have scheduled an emergency Cobra meeting today after a mob attempted to storm two hotels housing asylum seekers yesterday, amid widespread public unrest across the UK. The Prime Minister warned rioters they would “regret” engaging in what he called “far-right brutality” and vowed those involved in the unrest would “face the full force of the law” as he addressed the nation last night.
Monday’s meeting is expected to bring together relevant ministers and police representatives to discuss the response to be made in the coming days to prevent a repeat of the violence. The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that mosques would receive increased protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly address the threat of further attacks on places of worship.
In Rotherham and Tamworth, anti-immigration rioters smashed windows at the Holiday Inn Express before setting fires. At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police later confirmed, adding that one person had already been arrested and that others involved should “expect us to be at their door very soon”.
Masked men threw pieces of wood, chairs and bottles and sprayed police with fire extinguishers as around 700 people gathered. A similar incident took place at a Holiday Inn in Staffordshire, where asylum seekers are also believed to be staying.
People threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires and targeted police officers, Staffordshire Police said.
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside a mosque in Middlesbrough on Sunday evening and others were also targeted. Forty-three people were arrested and significant damage was caused to the Crown Court and the university, Cleveland police said.
Public unrest has erupted across the country following the triple murder of three girls stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. Anger has been fuelled by false internet rumours that the perpetrator was a Syrian Muslim asylum seeker.
THIS IS A LIVE BLOG: SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR UPDATES
