British PM Condemns Far-Right Violence Following Anti-Immigration Protests.
London, UK – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denounced “far-right thuggery” after violent anti-immigration protests culminated in an attack on a hotel. He vowed that those responsible would face severe legal consequences.
The protests erupted across Britain following a tragic knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport, northwest England, where three girls were killed and ten others injured. Misleading information circulated, falsely claiming the suspect was an immigrant and a radical Islamist. Police clarified that the suspect was born in Britain and that the incident was not terrorism-related.
By Saturday, the unrest had spread to cities including Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, and Belfast. These protests led to dozens of arrests, widespread vandalism, looting, and injuries to several police officers.
On Sunday, hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered near a hotel in Rotherham, northern England, believed to be housing asylum seekers. The protesters, many wearing masks or balaclavas, threw bricks at the police, broke hotel windows, and set nearby bins on fire, pushing them towards the hotel.
“I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we’ve seen this weekend,” Starmer said. “This is criminal violence, not legitimate protest. Those involved will face the full force of the law.” The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported 147 arrests since Saturday evening, with more expected.
Starmer, who recently took office after a decisive Labour Party victory, described the “marauding gangs” in Rotherham as causing “absolute fear” among residents and staff. Local police reported ten officers injured in Rotherham, with one officer knocked unconscious and others suffering suspected broken or fractured bones.
“The mindless actions today have achieved nothing but sheer destruction and fear,” said Lindsey Butterfield, assistant chief constable at South Yorkshire Police.
Sunday’s unrest spread to smaller towns, including Lancaster and Bolton in the northwest and Aldershot in the south. In Middlesbrough, northeast England, a march led to “mindless violence” and a public warning to avoid the town centre, resulting in 14 arrests.
The Home Office announced new security measures for mosques following threats. The last significant violent protests in Britain were in 2011, after police shot dead a Black man in London, a period during which Starmer served as chief prosecutor.
Community leaders and victims’ families in Southport condemned the unrest. “While this should be a time for quiet reflection and remembrance, too many have used the tragedy to create division and hate,” faith leaders from Liverpool said in a joint statement, emphasizing that such actions have instilled fear and danger in communities.