On Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised “swift criminal sanctions” following an emergency meeting addressing the far-right riots that erupted across England last week in response to the murder of three children.
The meeting, attended by ministers and police chiefs including Scotland Yard’s Mark Rowley, focused on strategies to curb the violence that began in Southport, northwest England, on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, rioters injured several police officers, arrested numerous individuals, and engaged in violent clashes with law enforcement. The mobs threw bricks and flares, looted shops, and damaged cars and homes.
To address the situation, the government plans to “ramp up criminal justice” measures to ensure swift consequences for those involved. Starmer announced that a “standing army” of specially-trained police officers is prepared to support local forces in any future riots.
“My priority is to end this disorder,” Starmer stated. “Regardless of the motivation, this is not protest; it is sheer violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities. The full force of the law will be applied to all participants.”
The riots began in Southport a day after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class resulted in the deaths of three young girls and critical injuries to five others. Initial false rumors on social media claimed the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker, but police confirmed the suspect is a 17-year-old from Wales with Rwandan parents.
Despite this, mosques have been targeted, and police have made hundreds of arrests nationwide. The rioters, often affiliated with the English Defence League—a far-right group—clashed with police and counter-protesters, including Muslim groups.
On Sunday, Starmer warned that rioters would “regret” their actions, and Interior Minister Yvette Cooper emphasized that “there will be a reckoning.” Cooper also criticized social media for fueling the violence, and Starmer stressed that “criminal law applies online as well as offline.”
The violence, linked to far-right and anti-immigration sentiments, has been exacerbated by misinformation spread online. Some of the worst violence occurred in Rotherham, where rioters targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers, injuring 12 officers. Similar incidents were reported in Bolton and Middlesbrough, resulting in numerous arrests.
This unrest is a significant challenge for Starmer, who recently assumed office after Labour’s landslide victory. Calls for Parliament to be recalled from its summer break have come from MPs across the political spectrum.
Authorities have reported more than 150 arrests over the weekend, with rioters throwing bricks, bottles, and flares at police, looting, and vandalizing property. The violence is the worst England has seen since the 2011 riots following a police killing in London.
Agitators have targeted at least two mosques, prompting the government to increase security for Islamic places of worship. The rallies, promoted by far-right social media channels, have been marked by anti-immigration slogans and chants.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, saw significant electoral success last month, capturing 14% of the vote—a notable achievement for a hard-right party. Police have attributed the violence to online disinformation, with figures like Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk being criticized for their inflammatory statements.
In response to the unrest, Interior Minister Cooper plans to address the spread of disinformation with social media platforms, asserting that concerns about immigration do not justify violence.
