Sir Keir Starmer issued a stark warning to far-right thugs rioting in British towns and cities with a “guarantee” that they will face swift justice and “the full force of the law”.
In a uncompromising statement to the nation, the prime minister minister told those behind the appalling scenes in Hull, Halifax, Liverpool, London, Southport and Rotherham: “I guarantee, you will regret it”.
It came as a violent mob stormed a hotel full of asylum seekers waiting for their applications to be heard in Rotherham and set fire to it knowing people were inside.
Violent thugs in balaclavas draped in the St George’s flags hurled chairs and set off fire extinguishers at police outside of the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, South Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon. The anti-immigrant hooligans chanted “get them out”, “you’re not welcome anymore” and “Yorkshire” as they encouraged each other to attack the hotel.
Another young group of men held a banner saying: “Stopping the boats means stopping the stabbings” and other offensive chants could be heard targeting Muslims and immigrants.
Just after Sir Keir made his statement, the Home Office revealed that extra support is being offered to protect mosques and other potential hot spots around the country as the crisis engulfing the nation appeared to grow.
As police kettled the mob in a stand-off outside the hotel in Rotherham, Sir Keir said that they “are not protesters” and made it clear that their racist behaviour “will not be tolerated.”
The prime minister said: said: “Be in no doubt, those that have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law.
“The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand, charges will follow and convictions will follow.
“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.
“This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.”
The violence has hit towns and cities around the UK since misinformation was used to enflame tensions following the murder of three girls and attempted murder of seven others in Southport.
False claims that the alleged attacker was on a watch list and muslim were used to stir up far-right mobs who descended on the grieving seaside in Merseyside last week and besieged a local mosque before setting fire to a police car and throw rocks at police officers..
Following that scores have been arrested at far-right rallies in London, Hull, Halifax and Rotherham and elsewhere as demonstrations turned violent.
In his statement Sirt Keir said: “I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we have seen this weekend.
“Be in no doubt: those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law. The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand. Charges will follow. And convictions will follow. I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder.”
He insisted that the scenes “are not protest” but “organised thuggery”.
“I am not afraid to call it out for what it is,” he said. “And it has no place on our street or online.
“Right now, there are attacks happening on a hotel in Rotherham. Marauding gangs intent on law breaking. Or worse. Windows smashed. Fires set ablaze. Residents and staff in absolute fear. There is no justification – none – for taking this action.”
In a note to those on the right who appeared to have given some justification to the scenes including Lord Davies who appeared to partly justify the riots with the cancellation of the Rwanda scheme, Tory Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones who issued a statement suggesting arrests might not work, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he added: “All right-minded people should be condemning this sort of violence.”
He went on: “People in this country have a right to be safe. And yet, we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted. Attacks on Mosques. Other minority communities singled out. Nazi salutes in the street. Attacks on the police. Wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric.”
He added: “To those who feel targeted because of the colour of your skin or your faith I know how frightening this must be. I want you to know this violent mob do not represent our country. And we will bring them to justice.
“Our police deserve our support, as they tackle any and all violent disorder that flares up. Whatever the apparent cause or motivation we make no distinction.
“Crime is crime and this government will tackle it.”
Meanwhile, the government has launched ta £29.4 million Protective Security for Mosques Scheme which will also help Muslim schools.
Mosques are being offered greater protection with new emergency security that can be rapidly deployed, under new arrangements announced by the Home Secretary today.
The new rapid response process means mosques at risk of violent disorder can be offered additional security personnel, providing communities with vital support and reassurance. This will boost the work already being done by local police forces to protect these important places of worship.
Under the new process now in place, the police, local authorities and mosques can ask for rapid security to be deployed, protecting communities and allowing for a return to worship as quickly as possible.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country, and nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the hooligans, thugs and extremist groups who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops or attacking people based on the colour of their skin.
“In light of the disgraceful threats and attacks that local mosques have also faced in many communities, the government is providing rapid additional support through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, alongside the support from local police forces and we repeat that anyone involved in this disorder and violence will face the full force of the law.
“As a nation we will not tolerate criminal behaviour, dangerous extremism, and racist attacks that go against everything our country stands for.”