Unrest erupted in the town of Southport due to misinformation about the mass stabbing that has hit multiple towns and cities, with anti-immigration protesters clashing with police. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned far-right protesters and said they would “regret” participating in England’s worst rioting in 13 years following the violence that linked to the murder of three children.
“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder”
Protesters smashed several windows at a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
“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 in a TV address.
There was “no justification” for what he called “far-right thuggery”, he added, promising to bring the perpetrators “to justice”.
Protesters threw bricks, cans and pots at officers
Hundreds of protesters were seen clashing with police carrying shields. The protesters threw bricks, cans and pots at officers. A video Footage aired on the BBC showed protesters shouting and forcing their way into a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham. Ten officers were injured there, but local police said none of the hotel staff or its clients had been hurt.
The fresh disturbances came and more than 150 people had been arrested following skirmishes at far-right rallies in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool and Hull, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland.In the northeastern English city of Middlesbrough, Protesters there seized a camera from an AFP crew and broke it. The journalists were not injured.
“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, who did not give her surname, told AFP in Nottingham.