On Sunday, a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, UK, became the target of rioters as the country grapples with its most severe social unrest in years.
The violence was sparked by an incident earlier in the week in Southport, northwest England, where three young girls were stabbed. The far-right quickly exploited this event, spreading disinformation and falsely claiming that the attacker was an immigrant, to incite anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments. However, police have clarified that the suspect was born in Britain.
The most recent unrest saw protesters storming the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Rotherham, with reports suggesting that the building was set on fire, according to PA Media. During the clashes, rioters hurled objects and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers. Some rioters waved England flags and confronted officers, chanting as tensions escalated. At least one officer in riot gear was seen being carried from the scene, injured during the altercation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violent protests over the weekend, which led to the arrest of at least 147 individuals since Saturday night. Starmer emphasized that those participating in the violence would face severe legal consequences.
“Everyone in this country deserves to feel safe,” Starmer said from Downing Street on Sunday, “yet we’ve witnessed Muslim communities being targeted, attacks on mosques, minority groups being singled out, Nazi salutes on our streets, assaults on police, and rampant violence fueled by racist rhetoric. I won’t hesitate to call it what it is: Far-right thuggery.”
Addressing the situation in Rotherham, Starmer described the rioters as “marauding gangs intent on law-breaking,” and urged all “right-minded people” to condemn the violence. He reassured those targeted by the riots that these violent individuals do not represent the country.
This recent wave of unrest, the worst since the 2011 riots, presents a significant challenge for the newly elected Labour government under Starmer’s leadership. There have been discussions about deploying the army to assist police forces, but the Prime Minister stated that there is currently no need for such measures. “The police have made it very clear that they have all the resources they need at the moment. There’s mutual aid, as I’ve just described, and they have the powers that they need,” he said.
In response to the violence, the UK’s Home Office announced on Sunday that mosques across the country would receive enhanced protection with new emergency security measures. These measures will allow police, local authorities, and mosques to request rapid security deployment, ensuring that communities can return to worship safely and swiftly.
