UK leader Keir Starmer issued a stern warning to far-right protesters on Sunday, cautioning them that they would “regret” their involvement in the worst rioting England has seen in 13 years. The unrest, which has persisted for five days, is linked to the tragic murder of three children earlier in the week.
In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, masked anti-immigration demonstrators vandalized a hotel used to house asylum seekers, smashing windows and pushing a burning bin into the building. It remains unclear whether asylum seekers were present at the time.
The violence, fueled by misinformation about a mass stabbing on Monday in Southport, has spread to various towns and cities. Anti-immigration protesters have clashed with police, creating a significant challenge for Starmer, who took office just a month ago after leading Labour to a decisive victory over the Conservatives.
Starmer condemned the “far-right thuggery,” stating that there was “no justification” for the violence and pledging to hold those responsible accountable. “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder,” he warned, addressing both the rioters and those inciting violence online.
Footage from the BBC showed rioters breaking into a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham and pushing a burning bin into the building. In Middlesbrough, hundreds of protesters confronted riot police, throwing bricks, cans, and other objects.
The unrest follows a previous day of violence, with more than 90 arrests made after skirmishes at far-right rallies in several cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, Hull, and Belfast. Rioters engaged in clashes with police, looted shops, and hurled insults and objects at officers.
This wave of violence is the worst England has experienced since the summer of 2011, when widespread riots erupted after the police shooting of a mixed-race man in north London. The current unrest originated in Southport on Tuesday night and has since spread nationwide.
The violence has been driven by false social media rumors about Axel Rudakubana, a British-born 17-year-old accused of the fatal stabbing of three children and injuring ten others. The English Defence League, an anti-Islam group, has been linked to the unrest, with agitators targeting mosques and prompting the UK interior ministry to offer new security measures for Islamic places of worship.
Far-right rallies have been organized under the banner “Enough is enough,” with participants waving British flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans. Counter-protests by anti-fascist groups have also taken place, with some gatherings remaining peaceful, such as one in Aldershot where participants held placards with messages like “Stop the invasion.“
Commentators suggest that the unrest may reflect a growing influence of anti-immigration sentiments in British politics. The recent election saw the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, secure 14% of the vote, marking a significant increase in support for far-right views. Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party, called for politicians to heed the unrest as a wake-up call and reconsider their stance on anti-immigration rhetoric.
