UK Leader Warns Against Far-Right Violence Amid Worst Riots in 13 Years
In the worst rioting England has seen since 2011, far-right protesters clashed with police across the country on Sunday, prompting a stern warning from UK leader Keir Starmer. The violence, fueled by misinformation about a mass stabbing incident, has left a trail of destruction and injured several officers.
Starmer, who was elected just a month ago after leading Labour to a landslide victory over the Conservatives, warned that those involved in the riots would "regret" their actions, whether directly or through online mobilization. He also vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The unrest began following a mass stabbing incident on Monday in the northwestern English town of Southport, which led to widespread misinformation and violence. Masked anti-immigration protesters smashed windows at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, while others clashed with police in towns and cities across England.
The rioting has been linked to far-right groups, including the English Defence League, an anti-Islam organization founded 15 years ago, whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism. At least two mosques have been targeted, and the UK interior ministry has announced new emergency security measures for Islamic places of worship.
The violence is the worst England has seen since the 2011 riots, which followed the police killing of a mixed-race man in north London. Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religious leaders in Liverpool have issued a joint appeal for calm, while the police have arrested over 150 people since Saturday.
Commentators have suggested that the demonstrators may feel emboldened by the political ascendancy of anti-immigration elements in British politics. At last month’s election, the Reform UK party, led by Brexit cheerleader Nigel Farage, captured 14 percent of the vote, one of the largest vote shares for a far-right British party.
Carla Denyer, co-leader of the left-wing Green party, has called the unrest a "wake-up call" to all politicians who have actively promoted or given in to anti-immigration rhetoric.
