A summary of today’s developments
Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised communities “will be safe” following a Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening and said those taking part in unrest will “feel the full force of the law”. Starmer added he was expecting “substantive sentencing before the end of this week”.
More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with rioting over the last week. There have been around a hundred charges in the wake of the spread of violent unrest, according to the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson. He also said that he is “willing” to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences.
The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister Heidi Alexander has said, warning that those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”.
The Metropolitan Police has vowed to protect London from “one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade”, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday.
A man has become the first suspect to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred during the riots after posting messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers. Jordan Parlour pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred after making advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds. The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday.
Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, Alexander also said.
An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs announced.
People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The man, who is in his 50s, remains in hospital in serious condition.
Online spaces that are being used to incite and organise the far-right-led riots contain messages encouraging followers to consider Jewish people as a target, community security experts have warned. One forum, which was key to organising the first protest that turned into a riot last Tuesday in Southport, is allegedly jointly run by a suspected neo-Nazi. He is believed to be based overseas.
Elon Musk called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” in reference to the conspiracy theory that police are treating white far-right “protesters” more harshly than minority groups. Downing Street would not engage again with the billionaire owner of X, having previously said his comments about a potential civil war in the UK had “no justification”. Since that criticism, Musk has been repeatedly targeting Keir Starmer on his social media platform. However, the Guardian understands Labour MPs have been privately warned not to engage in debate on Twitter about the far-right violence and to instead amplify calls for unity.
A total of 51 police officers were injured during the riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, Yorkshire, on Sunday. South Yorkshire Police said a number of its officers sustained broken bones, a concussion, head wounds and bruising.
An assault on a young boy in Belfast is being investigated as a hate crime by police.
Officers said a large group of young people threw eggs at a shop on the Falls Road at 6.10pm on Tuesday.
They said a young boy was also assaulted by up to 10 youths and sustained a minor facial injury.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, who attended the scene, said the community was “disgusted” by the incident.
Police have appealed to witnesses to get in touch through the online form on their website or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
Police in Durham issued dispersal orders to 37 people who arrived in the city centre on Tuesday evening after intelligence suggested public disorder was expected to break out.
People aged between 13 and 38 were given the orders, which will remain in place until 12pm tomorrow.
A 15-year-old boy was also arrested for a public order offence, Durham Police said.
Updated
Paramilitaries are suspected to have been an “element” in the latest disorder in Belfast.
Police came under sustained attack and the victim of a suspected hate crime is in a serious condition in hospital after violence in Belfast on Monday night.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said at one stage petrol was poured over a police Land Rover and set alight.
Police deployed two attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs), with one rioter struck on the hand.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of riot, and possession of a weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, police said.
He will appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The latest violence began late on Monday in the same area where two businesses were attacked on Saturday following an anti-immigration protest.
Political leaders have called for calm, and both the Stormont Executive and Assembly are set to meet later this week.
An attack on a business on the Falls Road in Belfast has been condemned by a local MLA.
People Before Profit’s Gerry Carroll said locals defended the business from a group of young people on Tuesday evening.
Carroll, who attended the scene, said the community is “disgusted” by the “shocking” incident.
“It is deeply concerning to see young people swept up in such behaviour, especially when we have seen such sickening and widespread attacks on minorities in recent days,” he said.
“I would appeal to all young people and everyone else to desist from these types of attacks, and to stand for diversity, inclusion and a welcome west Belfast.”
Online spaces that are being used to incite and organise the far-right-led riots contain messages encouraging followers to consider Jewish people as a target, community security experts have warned.
One forum, which was key to organising the first protest that turned into a riot last Tuesday in Southport, is allegedly jointly run by a suspected neo-Nazi. He is believed to be based overseas.
He is alleged to have called previously for attacks overseas on Jewish places of worship, according to research by the Community Security Trust (CST). Last year he was reported to the police for alleged encouragement of violent antisemitism.
One message in the forum insults “Gypsies” as well as Jews.
The CST monitors and investigates antisemitism in Britain and provides safety advice to Jewish communities. It works closely with the police and Muslim groups.
Generally, there is heightened fear and tension across communities that have already been attacked, as far-right organisers call for at least 30 sites around England to be targeted on Wednesday. Some are linked to immigration and asylum locations.
Those at the gatherings have directed their violence towards people perceived as not being white or British.
Organisers claim the gatherings are a protest over immigration, but the police are adamant that it is a “masquerade” for violent intent to physically harm minorities and asylum seekers, damage property and steal.
A CST spokesperson said: “There are some people in this movement and their online spaces encouraging others to consider Jews as a target, as well as everyone else they have identified so far, such as ethnic minorities, Muslims and asylum seekers.”
Starmer refused to be drawn into comments made by X owner Elon Musk about the ongoing disorder in the UK.
When asked by reporters if he was worried about Musk’s impact on the unrest, or if the man who bought social media platform Twitter had a point with some of his opinions, Starmer said: “My focus is on ensuring that our communities are safe. That is my sole focus and I think it’s very important for us all to support the police in what they’re doing.
“I went up to Southport to speak to some of the police who had been the first responders to the terrible attack that happened. They described the scene to me and what they had to deal with when those girls were attacked.
“Those same officers were then attacked on their own streets later the same day – the same officers who had been the first responders.
“Our first duty is to support the police in a difficult exercise that they are engaged in, keeping us safe… the police are doing a difficult job in difficult circumstances and I think that everybody should be giving their full support to ensure that we can make sure that our streets are safe and our communities feel safe and secure.
“That is really where the focus ought to be. That is my sole focus and that’s why I held this second Cobra meeting.”
Starmer has also reassured communities that “they will be safe” as concerns grow about further unrest on Wednesday.
The PM told reporters: “They will be safe. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place.
“Obviously it’s a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need, that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.
“But the message has to go to those that are involving themselves in this disorder, which is ‘you’re wrong, you shouldn’t be doing it, you will feel the full force of the law’, as I hope we’re demonstrating with these swift prosecutions.”
Starmer added the criminal justice system has shown a “robust and swift response” in the face of ongoing unrest.
Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s Cobra meeting, he said: “Within a week, the criminal justice system really has shown the robust and swift response that is very important to sending a message in circumstances like this.”
Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised communities “will be safe” following a Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening and said those taking part in unrest will “feel the full force of the law”.
Starmer added he was expecting “substantive sentencing before the end of this week”.
“That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder.”
Updated
As rioters hurled bricks, bottles and fireworks in a frenzy of violence in Plymouth, members of the local mosque were taking no chances.
The riots, which mirrored those that have scarred so many communities in the past week, broke out on the high street on Monday as 150 officers in riot gear and with dogs sought to keep apart far-right rioters and Stand Up to Racism demonstrators in the city centre.
Battles were fought near shops in Royal Parade opposite the Guildhall and the surrounding area in what one senior officer described as “sustained violence”.
Just 15 minutes walk away, members of the local mosque were braced. About 50 to 60 people had turned up to protect the Plymouth Islamic Education Trust (Piety) building that houses the mosque where 1,000 regularly attend Friday prayers, said the centre’s director, Mohamed Muganzi. “They came of their own volition because they were worried enough about what might happen. They had seen what had happened elsewhere.”
Last week, someone smashed the door to the centre, an act captured on CCTV and which Muganzi believes was motivated by what was happening in other towns. On Monday, Piety hired private security.
Those community members who turned up to protect the building were “the second line of defence, after the police”, said Muganzi. Thankfully, he said, they were not needed as the building was not targeted. “But it really breaks my heart that there are some community members who feel this afraid.”
Police have appealed for video footage of criminality, including an attack on a car, during a counter-protest staged after social media rumours of a far-right march being held in Birmingham.
Officers are also treating an attack on a drinker who was punched and kicked outside a pub in the Yardley area of the city as violent disorder.
Officers have also arrested a 46-year-old on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon after television coverage of a person apparently holding a sword, and added they are investigating attempts to slash a tyre on a Sky News vehicle.
An online portal for witnesses to upload footage of the incidents has been set up on the West Midlands Police website at mipp.police.uk/operation/20HQ24C03-PO1
South Yorkshire police said a total of 51 officers were injured as a result of violence outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers, Rotherham on Sunday, with injuries including broken bones, concussion, bruising and head wounds.
Police horses and dogs were also hurt, with one horse sustaining a hoof injury that has forced it retire from duty. Injured officers who have been unable to resume frontline duties are now part of the team trawling through footage and gathering evidence to secure arrests and charges, the force said.
David Hartley, the force’s assistant chief constable, said officers were “truly grateful for the kind messages of thanks and support which have been received from our communities”, adding: “I am so proud of our officers’ bravery and resilience on the night and now their ongoing dedication to helping our communities remain safe, coming back to work despite being subjected to such terrible levels of violence.
“If you were involved in the outright acts of violence and thuggery on Sunday, let me be clear - we are coming for you. We are determined to be arresting each and every one of the offenders from their homes in the coming days.”
Updated
A summary of today's developments
Keir Starmer will chair another meeting on Tuesday evening on continued action to tackle the violent disorder. Police are monitoring reports of at least 30 possible events on Wednesday.
More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with rioting over the last week. There have been around a hundred charges in the wake of the spread of violent unrest, according to the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson. He also said that he is “willing” to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences.
The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister Heidi Alexander has said, warning that those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”.
The Metropolitan Police has vowed to protect London from “one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade”, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday.
A man has become the first suspect to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred during the riots after posting messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers. Jordan Parlour pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred after making advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds. The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday.
Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, Alexander also said.
An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs announced.
People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The man, who is in his 50s, remains in hospital in serious condition
Elon Musk called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” in reference to the conspiracy theory that police are treating white far-right “protesters” more harshly than minority groups. Downing Street would not engage again with the billionaire owner of X, having previously said his comments about a potential civil war in the UK had “no justification”. Since that criticism, Musk has been repeatedly targeting Keir Starmer on his social media platform. However, the Guardian understands Labour MPs have been privately warned not to engage in debate on Twitter about the far-right violence and to instead amplify calls for unity.
Funding will not be a barrier to a strong police response to disorder, the home secretary told police chiefs.
In a call on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper told chief constables their forces would receive support for overtime pay and any other resources they required when dealing with public disorder.
She said: “The police have my unwavering commitment to ensure they have everything they need to mobilise a strong frontline response across the country to put a stop to the appalling displays of violence and criminal damage we have seen in some of our towns and cities.
“Criminals should expect to pay the price for violent thuggery and disorder on our streets.
“Keyboard warriors also cannot hide, as criminal organisation and incitement online will be liable for prosecution and strong penalties too.
“My message to communities is to let the police do their jobs and to make clear that we collectively reject this criminality and disorder – not in our towns, not in our names.
“The people peddling this violence and hate do not represent Britain”.
Nigel Farage has claimed he was referring to claims made by influencer Andrew Tate when he asked whether the alleged Southport attacker was known to security services.
In a video posted on 30 July, the day after the attack that killed three young girls, the Reform UK leader said there had been “reports” that the suspect was being monitored by the security services.
Referring to the police description of the attack as a non-terror incident, he added: “I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. I don’t know the answer to that. I think it’s a fair and legitimate question.”
Speaking to LBC on Tuesday, Farage declined to apologise for his comments, saying the disorder after the Southport attack had been so bad because “we weren’t told the truth”.
He said his comments about the security services had been referring to posts by “prominent folks with a big following”, such as Andrew Tate falsely claiming the suspect had arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in a small boat in 2016.
Tate has risen to prominence as an influencer and is awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Farage told LBC: “There were some stories online from prominent folks with a big following, Andrew Tate etc, suggesting that the man had crossed the English Channel in a boat in October 2023.”
He added: “I asked a very simple question, was this person known or not.”
Asked whether he had fallen for false claims online, Farage added: “I didn’t believe any of it, I hadn’t got a clue.”
Updated
Outside the asylum seeker hotel, the far-right mob are baying “get them out” while hurling rocks, fireworks and other missiles. Behind the hotel windows, those who live there cower in terror.
But this was not the scene outside the asylum seeker hotel in Rotherham that was attacked by far-right thugs on Sunday, nor in Hull on Saturday. This happened outside the Suites hotel in Knowsley on 10 February 2023.
The far-right tactics haven’t changed much between then and now. The Home Office policy of housing tens of thousands of asylum seekers in hotels has made them a soft and visible target.
First man convicted of stirring up racial hatred in recent riots via Facebook posts
A man has become the first suspect to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred during the riots after posting messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Jordan Parlour pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred after making advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds.
The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday.
There was no evidence that Parlour attended the hotel.
A man has been jailed after disorder in Bolton on Sunday.
James Nelson, 19, of Victoria Road, Horwich, Bolton, is thought to be the first person to receive a prison sentence after widespread unrest in relation to the Southport killings.
At Manchester magistrates court on Tuesday, Nelson was jailed for two months after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage.
Liam Powell, 28, of Hendon Court, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, received a 12-month community order after admitting to being in possession of cocaine during the disorder in the Greater Manchester town.
Updated
A woman who pushed a burning wheelie bin into a row of police officers before falling to the ground and being arrested has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Teesside magistrates court heard Stacy Vint, 34, and a man were seen pushing the bin, the contents of which were on fire, on Linthorpe Road during unrest in Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Prosecutor John Garside said the pair then shoved the bin at a police line before Vint fell over and was arrested.
She initially gave officers a false name, the court heard.
Vint was remanded in custody until her sentencing on 28 August.
Updated
Joe Mulhall, director of research at campaign group HOPE not hate, said it is aware of a list that has circulated widely on social media over the last 48 hours, which consists of the purported names and locations of various offices relating to immigration and asylum services around the country.
“This is a “hit list” of aspirational targets that calls for action, up to and including terrorism, at 8pm tomorrow It has been circulated by an anonymous fascist who also had a hand in instigating anti-Muslim violence in Southport and Liverpool this past week. This actor, who has also called for the assassinations of public figures, must be brought to justice and face the full force of the law.
“Understandably, the wide circulation of this list has caused a great deal of distress, unease and fear. Indeed, this list has been compiled precisely to spread these emotions within Muslim and immigrant communities. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict exactly which, if any, of these locations will be targeted by far-right rioters or come under physical attack. Any and all services should be on high alert.”
A teenager banged on the dock glass and shouted when he was remanded in custody over claims he “threw missiles” at police and members of the public while wearing a ski mask during disorder in Middlesbrough.
Kaleb Peacock Lightfoot, 19, of Dixon Grove, Middlesbrough, denied a charge of violent disorder.
The court heard he said he attended “what he believed was going to be a peaceful protest”.
Peacock Lightfoot appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court via a video link from South Tyneside Magistrates Court after some of the 28 defendants charged over the Middlesbrough disorder were moved to a second court due to backlogs in dealing with them on Tuesday.
He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on August 28.
The defendant became visibly distressed when the district judge Marie Mallon said she would not be granting him bail.
Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn has called for an end to “senseless violence”.
He said he is in contact with the region’s first and deputy first ministers, justice minister and the PSNI chief constable.
“The violence which has sowed fear in local communities and damaged businesses is totally unacceptable,” he said.
“The people of Northern Ireland deserve better. Those involved in this violent disorder are damaging the very communities they falsely claim to represent.
“I would like to thank the PSNI for their continuing efforts to keep our communities safe.
“My thoughts are with all those who have suffered, including the businesses that have been attacked, and the member of the public who was the victim of a serious assault during last night’s disorder.
“I urge those involved to stop this senseless violence and intimidation.”
Updated
Elon Musk has called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” in reference to the conspiracy theory that police are treating white far-right “protesters” more harshly than minority groups, writes Jessica Elgot and Rowena Mason.
Downing Street would not engage again with the billionaire owner of X, having previously said his comments about a potential civil war in the UK had “no justification”. Since that criticism, Musk has been repeatedly targeting Keir Starmer on his social media platform.
However, the Guardian understands Labour MPs have been privately warned not to engage in debate on Twitter about the far-right violence and to instead amplify calls for unity.
In a letter to MPs from the chief whip Alan Campbell, he says it is “important that you do not do anything that risks amplifying misinformation on social media and do not get drawn into debates online.”
The safeguarding minister Jess Phillips received criticism from Conservatives on Tuesday for saying a group of Muslim men who were seen shouting at members of the media were provoked by misinformation into believing the far-right would be present. Former home secretary James Cleverly said Phillips should “think about the consequences” of her words.
But ministers have engaged robustly to dismiss suggestions of “two tier” policing, including the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the courts minister Heidi Alexander. Musk has promoted the idea of different approaches to policing based on race that has been spread by Tommy Robinson and the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage amid a series of far-right riots across towns and cities in England and in Belfast.
In a slew of tweets aimed at Starmer, Musk, who is one of the world’s richest men, also questioned whether the riots were taking place in Britain or the Soviet Union, in response to a video purporting to show someone being arrested for making offensive comments on Facebook.
The Metropolitan police has vowed to protect London from “one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade”, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday.
Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine, who is in charge of the policing operation, said: “This country is faced with one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade. This is a national critical incident and we will do everything in our power to protect London and its communities.
“We know about the events planned by hateful and divisive groups across the capital tomorrow night. They’ve made their intention to cause disruption and division very clear.
“The scenes of racist, thuggish and criminal behaviour across the country have been deeply shocking. Members of the public and officers have been attacked, many have been injured.
“We will not tolerate this on our streets. We will use every power, tactic and tool available to prevent further scenes of disorder.
“We arrested more than 100 people in central London disorder last week and we will not hesitate to arrest hundreds more if they take to the streets intent on fuelling violence.”
Valentine added: “Our message to anyone who plans to breed disorder is clear – you will face the full force of the law.”
Updated
A 46-year-old male has been arrested by police investigating TV footage showing a man apparently armed with a weapon at a counter-protest in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on Monday night, police said.
West Midlands Police also said an assault on a drinker outside Yardley’s Clumsy Swan pub is being investigated as a violent disorder.
Other inquiries are underway into damage caused to windows at the pub, attempts to slash a tyre on a Sky News vehicle, and damage caused to a Skoda car which was forced to drive across a grassed area after being attacked.
Afternoon summary
Here is a brief summary of today’s key events as we head into the evening.
Keir Starmer will chair another meeting on Tuesday evening on continued action to tackle the violent disorder. Police are monitoring reports of at least 30 possible events on Wednesday.
More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with rioting over the last week. There have been around a hundred charges in the wake of the spread of violent unrest, according to the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson.
Parkinson also said that he is “willing” to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences.
The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister Heidi Alexander has said, warning that those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”.
Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, Alexander also said.
An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs announced.
People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The man, who is in his 50s, remains in hospital in serious condition.
I’m handing over to my colleague, Nadeem Badshah, who will keep you up to date with any further developments this evening.
The children who were being treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool following the Southport stabbing attack last week have all been discharged, the hospital has said.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, which treated some of the casualties, thanked those involved “in responding to the incident or caring for anyone affected by it, especially our colleagues in the NHS, Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service”.
“We also want to say thank you to all who sent well wishes to Alder Hey and to the families affected. Our heartfelt sympathies remain with all those impacted by last week’s tragic events,” it added.
We are really pleased to be able to share that all the children involved in last Monday’s awful incident in Southport who were under our care have now been safely discharged home from Alder Hey.
— 🏥 Alder Hey 💙 (@AlderHey) August 6, 2024
Full statement: https://t.co/CmYwc5BDk1 pic.twitter.com/iUO0hijzzk
Merseyside Police said one child continues to be cared for at a different hospital.
Updated
PM to chair another emergency Cobra meeting tonight
Prime minister Keir Starmer will chair another emergency Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening on continued action to tackle the violent disorder that has erupted across England as well as Belfast, the PA news agency understands.
Relevant ministers and police chiefs will attend.
The Crown Prosecution Service “will consider terrorism offences” in some cases in connection with the violence seen in England over the last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions has said.
Stephen Parkinson told BBC News that he was aware of at least one case in which this was already taking place. “We are willing to look at terrorism offences. I’m aware of at least one instance where that is happening,” he said.
“Where you have organised groups planning activity for the purposes of advancing [an] ideology... planning really, really serious disruption then yes, we will consider terrorism offences.”
The Stormont executive will meet to discuss the response to continuing disorder in Belfast.
A man in his 50s remains in hospital in a serious condition after being attacked by a mob on Monday night. Police are treating it as a hate-motivated attack.
Four men appeared in court on Monday to face charges linked to the violence on Saturday. The violence continued on Monday night.
It was announced earlier this week that the Northern Ireland assembly will be recalled from summer recess on Thursday to discuss the violence.
A meeting of Belfast city council on Monday passed a motion to provide financial support to the businesses attacked during Saturday’s disorder.
Updated
The new first minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, has said she is determined not to see the rise in hate crimes in the country after rioting in towns and cities in England and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Morgan, who was voted in as the head of the Welsh government on Tuesday, said: “We’re certainly not being complacent here. We know that there are tensions in some communities, but we are determined to make sure we don’t see the rise of hate crime in Wales.”
She added that measures were being taken to avoid that and she had asked for an early meeting with the police and faith community leaders.
Updated
Social media platforms are providing the far right with a “powerful venue to incite hate and organise,” the deputy director at Amnesty Tech has said.
Pat de Brún said the rioting and violence that has spread across England, and has also been seen in Belfast, follows a period of “intense scapegoating of refugees and migrants” by politicians and others. He described platform algorithms as having “actively amplified and escalated” such rhetoric.
“These toxic algorithms are deliberately designed to prioritise engagement and act as incendiaries that fuel division, disinformation, and hate,” de Brún said, adding that the algorithms are integral to many tech companies’ business models, which seek to collect data.
He said the model had “entailed disastrous long-term consequences for human rights, in particular for those most marginalised in society” and called for these algorithms to be strictly regulated.
Health secretary stresses zero tolerance approach to racism against NHS and care workers
People who are racist to NHS staff in health settings “can and should” be turned away from care, the health secretary has said.
Wes Streeting told PA he condemned the “mindless thuggery” seen in the rioting and said that the government “will not tolerate” the continuation of violence that has spread through towns and cities across England over the last week.
He said the people who attacked two Filipino nurses in Sunderland had “brought enormous shame on our country”. Stones were thrown at a taxi the nurses were going to work in on Friday evening, according to reports, as they travelled to provide emergency cover during unrest.
Streeting stressed a zero tolerance approach to racism against NHS and social care workers, saying: “I will not tolerate, under any circumstances, NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse.”
He added: “People who are abusing NHS staff can be turned away, and should be turned away, if that is the way that they are treating our staff.”
Updated
Police in Northern Ireland have said they believe there is a “paramilitary element” involved in the violent disorder Belfast saw on Monday night.
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said she “has no doubt there is a paramilitary element”, describing scenes on Monday of younger adults appearing to be directed by older people.
Speaking at a press conference at PSNI headquarters in east Belfast, PA reports that Jones said: “We have an open mind as to who is orchestrating and organising this.
“What we saw last night, we feel was different from what we saw on Saturday. On Saturday, we saw mainly older adult people who became involved in disorder.
“Last night it was clear to us that there was a younger element, teenagers mainly, who were involved in the disorder, but that there was an element of organisation and orchestration from what appeared to be older adults present at the scene.”
She added that while she had “no doubt” that there was a paramilitary element involved, she could not say whether it was “the main organiser or orchestrator of these events”.
Kenya and the United Arab Emirates have also warned their citizens in the UK to steer clear of the violent protests in England.
In an advisory issued on Tuesday, Kenya’s high commission in London said it was closely monitoring the unrest which it said was “primarily driven by far right and anti immigrant groups”
It added: “The violence has flared up across various towns and cities in the United Kingdom. Kenyans residing in or travelling to the United Kingdom are urged to stay away from the protest areas and should remain vigilant.
“Please also look out for the updates from the UK Government and your local authorities. Kenyan who have not registered with the Kenya high commission, United Kingdom are requested to do so immediately to ensure they receive timely information and assistance.”
The UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs “urges UAE citizens in the United Kingdom to exercise the highest level of caution and take the necessary precautions in light of the unstable security situation in various cities across the UK.
“Furthermore, the ministry warns UAE nationals against visiting areas witnessing riots and protests and to avoid crowded areas. UAE citizens must adhere to the warnings issued by the UAE Embassy in London and comply with all safety instructions.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also advises UAE citizens on the the importance of remaining in contact with the Embassy in London, in case of emergency, or a suspicion of any potential danger.”
So far similar warnings have been issued by at least five other countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Nigeria, and India.
Keir Starmer has told Cabinet that the “standing army” of special duty public officers are ready to be deployed across the country to tackle any emerging disorder, PA reported citing Downing Street.
A readout of the meeting said:
The Home Secretary gave an update on the latest situation and the current operational response, condemning the disgraceful scenes of crime and thuggery at sites including the Liverpool Children’s Library, mosques, supermarkets and hotels housing asylum seekers.
The Home Secretary spoke about the progress of the new National Violent Disorder Programme in bringing together the best policing capabilities from across the country to share intelligence on the activity of violent groups so the authorities can swiftly intervene to arrest them.
The Cabinet joined the Home Secretary in her praise of the police for their continued hard work and recognition of the dedicated people who were helping to rebuild communities in the wake of the damage caused.
The Attorney General spoke about the swift progress by the Crown Prosecution Service in charging offenders and looked towards potential court hearings at the end of the week.
The Deputy Prime Minister spoke Cabinet through the work her department had been undertaking with local leaders to address community tensions and offer support.
Lastly, the Secretary of State for Science and Technology updated on his meetings with social media companies where he made clear their responsibility to continue to work with the Government to stop the spread of hateful disinformation and incitement.
As well as the extra riot officers, other specialist units will be pulled off their regular duties to help combat the violence, blamed on the extremist right wing.
Regional and organised crime units – which usually tackle drugs gangs and other serious crime – are investigating “influencers and organisers” to see if they are crossing the line into committing the criminal offence of incitement, a police source said.
Six events are expected on Tuesday, about 30 may take place on Wednesday and the coming weekend may also see gatherings which so far have frequently descended into violence. To add to the sense of police being under stretch, the football season begins this weekend.
Counter-terrorism policing is also supporting the police response, though details have not yet been given.
Police accept there is “a level of fear” among communities targeted, especially Muslims and Britain and asylum seekers, a police spokesperson said today.
Privately police believe they could manage with a worsening of the violence and thus, even greater demands on policing. But that comes at a price to regular crime fighting, community policing, and officer welfare.
Updated
Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, has said that “it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re protesting – if you turn up in a mask, with a weapon, intent on causing disorder, you will face the full force of the law.”
“To those working with police and community organisations with pride and civic duty – you are the best of us,” she added.
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re protesting – if you turn up in a mask, with a weapon, intent on causing disorder, you will face the full force of the law.
— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) August 6, 2024
To those working with police and community organisations with pride and civic duty - you are the best of us.
Updated
Nick Tenconi, the interim leader of Ukip, has been at the scenes of the anti-migrant protest in Plymouth shouting slogans with a loud speaker.
Locals in Plymouth say enough is enough!
— UK Independence Party (@UKIP) August 6, 2024
UKIP leader @NickTenconi joins patriots in Plymouth as they peacefully stand up to two-tier Keir’s tyranny.
The people will not be ignored.
The people demand change. pic.twitter.com/gK3rWwSnRd
The director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, has said that there have been around a hundred charges in the wake of disorder around the country, PA reported.
“There have been about 100 charges that have been laid. As we heard last night, around 400 people arrested. So the majority of people have been released on bail pending further investigation,” he told the BBC.
He added:
And what the police will be doing now is building those files. They will be resubmitted to us and then we’ll be making charging decisions.
I should say that we are able to make immediate charging decisions. In fact, I made a direction to my colleagues that I would want them to make immediate charging decisions if we got the key evidence in place.
But for the most part, the police have made the decision to release people on bail and then they’ll come to us at later stage. That means that we can manage the flow quite easily because not all these people will come back at the same time.
So I’m confident actually that we have the capacity and the capability to deal with the work that’s there and the work that we anticipate coming forward.
Scottish secretary Ian Murray has today written to religious leaders across the country to offer them his direct support, as he said he spoke to the chief constable of Police Scotland.
Murray said: “I am reassured that Police Scotland do not have any specific intelligence that disorder is likely in Scotland at this point, but we must not be complacent.”
He said:
The hate-fuelled violence and thuggery we have seen in the last few days across parts of the country is unacceptable and intolerable. Two messages must be made clear – that those responsible for violence and rioting will face the full force of the law, and that the politics of hate and division can never win.
Referencing attempts by Tommy Robinson to stir up Islamophobic rumours about stabbing in Stirling at the weekend, he added:
I know that many communities in Scotland are concerned that violence may spread here. We do know that misinformation has been spread about events in Scotland.
“There is no place in Scotland for this sort of violence, hate and xenophobia. We simply will not tolerate it,” he said.
Updated
Arrests surpass 400 as police prepare for further riots
More than 400 people have now been arrested in connection with riots and disorder around the country, PA has reported, citing police sources. The number is expected to continue to rise in the coming days.
There were 46 charges on Monday and 18 overnight, PA understands.
Police are aware of six potential events on Tuesday, while Wednesday is expected to be a busy day, with officers monitoring reports of at least 30 possible gatherings.
Further 2,220 riot trained police officers to be deployed
An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs today announced.
Police chiefs have decided to dramatically increase the number, with violence continuing on Monday, and more events planned today.
They are also braced for a potential 30 so-called protests on Wednesday evening, and are assessing the credibility of an online document listing targets, many of which are connected to immigration and asylum.
Already almost 4,000 riot officers had been deployed across England and Wales. Some faced violence in their own force area, some were sent to help out other forces which were under strain over the weekend.
All the riot officers usually carry out regular police work, and thus a police source accepted that pulling another 2,200 riot trained officers from their usual duties will further damage regular policing.
In total there are 18,000 specially trained public order or riot officers in England and Wales. The decision to increase the number deployed means 30% of the total will be deployed.
A police source said the number would be adjusted up or down, as the situation develops. Further trouble is feared and being prepared for today and tomorrow.
Over 400 arrests have now been made and the police source said while some of the violence is planned, with a lot of those joining in being locals who hear of so-called protests and decide to join in.
Nigel Farage was in Hong Kong as riots spread, says report
Nigel Farage was visiting Hong Kong as far-right riots spread across England and he called for the recall of parliament, the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) has reported.
The news that Farage was abroad came after he issued a statement on Monday calling for parliament to be recalled. In the statement, Farage, who is the MP for Clacton, also appeared to support the myth of “two-tier policing”.
A spokesperson for Farage, the leader of Reform UK, confirmed the visit and said he had now returned, the HKFP reported. “This was an important family visit, taken whilst UK parliament is in recess, he is now back in the UK,” the spokesperson told the newspaper.
Farage was spotted in Hong Kong by a social media user, who said she saw the politician at Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental hotel on Monday.
Tommy Robinson has also been revealed as holidaying in Cyprus while continuing his online commentary about the riots. He is among those who are being looked at by police for their alleged role in disseminating disinformation.
Updated
We have more detail on the 28 people charged in connection with violence in central Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Cleveland Police said of this number, 26 have been charged with violent disorder, one is accused of possession of an offensive weapon and another was charged after being wanted on a warrant.
Meanwhile, two men and two teenagers have been charged in connection with disorder in Bolton on Sunday.
One man, 31, has been charged with violent disorder, while another, 18, has has been charged with criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Both have been remanded in custody ahead of court appearances on Tuesday, Lancashire Police said.
In addition, a 16-year-old boy has been charged with violent disorder and another 16-year-old boy has been charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, police said.
India warns its citizens about the riots, joining four other countries
India has joined at least four other countries in advising its citizens about the dangers of the riots in England, warning them to avoid areas where protests are happening.
In an advisory for Indians visiting the UK, the High Commission of India in London said: “Indian travelers would be aware of recent disturbances in some parts of the United Kingdom. The High Commissioner of India in London is closely monitoring the situation.
“Visitors from India are advised to stay vigilant and exercise due caution while traveling in the UK. It is advisable to follow local news and advisories issued by local security agencies, and to avoid areas where protests are underway. In case of an emergency, the High Commission of India may be contacted.”
Similar alerts have already been issued by Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria.
Updated
The UK’s National Union of Students has offered a statement of support to communities affected by far-right rioting and violence, including students from Muslim and migrant backgrounds, following a week of far-right violence across England and in Belfast.
“At NUS, we stand in solidarity with the migrants, racialised and Muslim communities that have faced xenophobic, racist, and Islamophobic violence in the last week,” the NUS statement said.
The spread of violence is “the result of a growing and dangerous narrative that has served to normalise racist and anti-migrant sentiments,” it said.
It added that the narrative had entered the higher education sector “through the vilification of international and refugee students”.
Our statement on far-right violence in the UK over the last week. We stand in solidarity with migrants, racialised and Muslim communities.
— NUS UK (@nusuk) August 6, 2024
Resources for SU officers and students: https://t.co/bRBD2JohsY
Support our statement: https://t.co/r5P3D5IgSi pic.twitter.com/Sii149v9ON
Updated
Supporters of the far-right riots have worked to spread a dangerous myth: the idea that white far-right “protesters” are the victims of a “two-tier policing” system that discriminates against them over their race and political views.
This false idea has been propagated by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as well as online figures including Laurence Fox. On Monday, Nigel Farage claimed that “ever since the soft policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread”.
It has been rejected by Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer and Priti Patel. My colleagues Archie Bland and Vikram Dodd have written this explainer outlining the myth’s origins and how it has spread:
Updated
Staffordshire Police are appealing for information from the public after a police dog was struck with a brick and six officers were injured during violent disorder in Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent over the weekend.
The dog was left with a gash above her right eye after she was attacked with a brick and has received medical treatment, the force said. Two other dogs were also injured in Tamworth.
Six officers were also assaulted during the incidents across both areas at the weekend, although none of their injuries were serious.
One man has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker after an officer was assaulted in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday.
Anyone with information about the assaults on officers or police dogs over the weekend, or who has access to any footage or images of the incident, can share them using the Major Incident Public Portal at mipp.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers.
Updated
Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, justice minister Heidi Alexander has said.
The number of those arrested and charged continues to grow. Here are the latest updates, courtesy of PA.
Cleveland Police said 28 people will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with violent disorder and other offences following disorder in Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Two more people have been charged with violent disorder after unrest in Merseyside last week, including a 15-year-old boy.
Eight people – a woman and seven men, aged between 18 and 46 – have been charged in connection with disturbances in Nottingham city centre at the weekend. They have been charged with a variety of crimes, including public order, weapon offences and assaulting an emergency worker.
A third man has been charged in connection with violent disorder in Bristol city centre on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police said. Two other men, aged 45 and 39, were charged with Section 4 public order offences on Sunday.
Six people have been charged with violent disorder following rioting outside a hotel in Rotherham on Sunday, South Yorkshire Police said. This includes two boys, aged 16 and 17.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested in Darlington on suspicion of violent disorder, assaulting a police officer and possession of a controlled drug , according to Durham Police. He remains in custody on Tuesday morning.
A man and a woman in their 30s from Chester have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause fear and violence following a social media post encouraging members of the public to protest outside a hotel, Cheshire Police said.
Man in serious condition in hospital in Belfast after suspected hate crime
People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Members of the public attempted to shield the man, who is in his 50s, during the disturbances in the Donegall Road and Oban Street area on Monday night, police said.
He has been hospitalised. “His condition is described as serious and we are treating his attack as a hate crime,” said the statement.
The crowd, several dozen-strong, threw bricks and petrol bombs, set a police Land Rover alight and attempted to burn the remains of a supermarket that had been torched during a riot on Saturday. It is owned by an immigrant. “Officers were able to douse this small fire before it developed,” said the statement.
Police said they fired two Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs), striking a rioter on the hand, and arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of riotous behaviour.
“There is never any justification for this type of violent behaviour,” Gordon Lyons, Stormont’s community minister, told the BBC. “There is no justification for attack on the police it needs to stop and it needs to stop straight away.”
The Stormont assembly is to be recalled on Thursday to discuss the disturbances and race relations.
Updated
Social media companies have a “moral responsibility” not to aid the spread of disinformation and inflammatory content on their platforms, the justice minister has said.
Heidi Alexander told Sky News: “The idea that you can sit behind a computer screen or sit behind the screen of your mobile phone and somehow think that that protects you from the law is for the birds.” She added that the government will take “a very robust approach” to the companies.
“There has been some welcome action where there has been automated removal of some false information, but I do think the social media companies could and should be doing more,” Alexander said.
“They have got a moral responsibility not to be propagating and disseminating misleading and inflammatory content on their platforms.”
Elon Musk’s post on X that “civil war is inevitable” amid the continued spread of rioting in England and Northern Ireland is “deeply irresponsible”, justice minister Heidi Alexander said.
Musk, the head of X, formerly Twitter, has faced a backlash to his comments as social media sites have also been criticised for not doing enough to tackle the spread of disinformation. Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is already known to be among those who are being looked at by police for their alleged role in disseminating disinformation.
Alexander told Times Radio: “If you have got a platform, a large social media platform, then you have also got a responsibility.” She said it was “deeply irresponsible” and that “everyone should be appealing for calm”.
“Use of language such as a ‘civil war’ is in no way acceptable. We are seeing police officers being seriously injured, buildings set alight, and so I really do think that everyone who has a platform should be exercising their power responsibly,” Alexander said.
A woman from Middlesbrough has spoken about the ‘traumatic’ experience of having her family’s home attacked in the far-right riots that reached her area over the weekend.
A woman called Anika told BBC Radio 4 about the rioting in her area, which left damage to their property. “We closed all the blinds and curtains, windows, whatever could lock. Go upstairs obviously, because it’s not safe to be downstairs.”
She said people tried to get into their home, smashing the door’s window. “They were swearing racial slurs and then jumping on top of the [car] windscreen, the roof of it, breaking the side mirror windows – the car had to be a write-off.” She added that her mother, a carer, had not been able to go to the child she cares for due to the riot and damage to the vehicle.
Anika described the attack as “really scary”. “It’s just been like a traumatic experience, like we’ve never experienced it our life.”
Updated
Government introduces more than 500 extra prison places over riots
The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister has said, and those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”.
Nearly 400 arrests have been made since the disorder began a week ago in the wake of the Southport stabbings. Police officers were attacked and injured in Plymouth, Belfast and Darlington on Monday.
“We will make sure that anyone that is given a custodial sentence as a result of the riots and disorder, there will be a prison place waiting for them,” the justice minister Heidi Alexander told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
In response to the disorder, the government had introduced 567 additional prison places that were due to come forward at the end of the month, Alexander said.
The new prison spaces will be in Stocken prison in Rutland and Cookham Wood young offender institution in Kent, according to the justice minister.
Archbishop says rioters ‘defile the flag they wrap themselves in’ after violence continues for seventh night
Good morning.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that rioters “defile the flag they wrap themselves in” on Tuesday morning, following seven days of far-riot riots that have seen violence spread across several towns and cities in England, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Archbishop Justin Welby told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is not the United Kingdom. It is not British. It is not English. They defile the flag they wrap themselves in.”
He said there had been “manipulation … by people on social media, by people abroad and that needs to be strongly resisted.”
Here is a quick summary of the developments overnight:
Police officers have been injured during “sustained violence” in Plymouth as disorder on Monday continued for a seventh day after the Southport stabbings.
In Belfast, social media footage showed officers attacked with missiles in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas. The violence occurred in the same area where two businesses were attacked on Saturday.
Nearly 400 arrests have been made since the Southport stabbings a week ago, after which the riots began. The total is expected to rise each day, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.
Neil Basu, Britain’s former head of counter-terrorism, said he believed the worst of the far-right violence should be treated as terrorism.
Updated
