PM Keir Starmer calls emergency Cobra meeting as riots sweep England, warns rioters

Keir Starmer warns rioters (File)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called an emergency Cobra meeting to address the widespread rioting that has gripped the nation over the weekend.

The meeting follows Starmer's stern warning to the far-right groups responsible for the violence, disorder, and looting across England, targeting asylum seekers and mosques.

This high-level Cobra meeting will include ministers, police, and intelligence officials to assess the recent incidents and develop a coordinated response. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the scenes as “utterly appalling” and assured that police will have full support to take decisive action against those responsible. Enhanced security measures will be introduced for mosques to ensure the swift deployment of security forces and protect worshippers.

In an emergency statement from No 10 last night, Starmer warned the rioters that they would face severe consequences. "I guarantee you will regret taking part," he declared, addressing both the direct participants and those inciting the violence online. His statement followed an attack on a Holiday Inn Express housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, where demonstrators assaulted police officers and engaged in vandalism.

I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we have seen this weekend. Be in no doubt: those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law. pic.twitter.com/uNeJtD8pCQ— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 4, 2024

In response to the violence, Bolton police imposed a Section 60AA order requiring individuals to remove face coverings. The unrest has sparked discussions about fast-tracking prosecutions, similar to the 2011 riots, with potential 24/7 court operations to expedite cases.

The riots began in Southport late Tuesday after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed party and quickly spread across England. The disturbances were exacerbated by false social media rumours about British-born suspect Axel Rudakubana, who is accused of killing three children and injuring ten others. Agitators have targeted mosques, prompting the UK interior ministry to enhance security for Islamic places of worship. The protests, organised on far-right social media under the banner "Enough is enough," feature participants waving flags and chanting anti-migrant slogans.

The violence extended beyond Rotherham; in Middlesbrough, police officers in riot gear were assaulted with bricks and burning debris-filled wheelie bins. During the disorder in Nottingham’s Market Square, arrests were made, while police in Sunderland conducted home raids and made arrests related to Saturday’s disturbances. In response to the attacks on mosques, the Home Office has introduced "emergency security" measures and allocated over £50 million to protect faith communities.