British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged the establishment of a “standing army” of specialist police officers, promising “swift criminal sanctions” in response to violent riots that have erupted across the country over the past week.
During an emergency meeting on Monday with ministers and police chiefs, including Scotland Yard Commissioner Mark Rowley, Starmer discussed strategies to quell the violence that first broke out in Southport, northwest England, last Tuesday. He attributed the unrest to far-right activists and misinformation spread on social media, which inflamed anger over a stabbing attack at a dance class last week that resulted in the deaths of three girls.
False rumors circulated online suggested that the suspect was a Muslim and an asylum seeker, leading to targeted attacks on immigrants and Muslims. However, police confirmed that the 17-year-old suspect was born in the United Kingdom and that the stabbings are not being treated as a terrorist incident.
Starmer emphasized that a “standing army” of specially trained police officers is prepared to support local forces wherever further riots occur. “Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest. It is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities,” Starmer stated. “The full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part in these activities.”
On Sunday, angry mobs attacked two hotels housing asylum seekers, breaking windows and setting fires before police dispersed the crowds and evacuated residents. Dozens of police officers have been hospitalized for injuries over the past six days after being struck with bricks, bottles, and large wooden posts.
Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire, where one of the hotels was attacked, condemned the violence, attributing it to “far-right thugs.” Coppard told the BBC, “These are far-right thugs who attacked some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, and there is absolutely no excuse for trying to burn to death 200 of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
A spokesperson for Starmer stated that no requests have been made to call in the military. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed accountability for those involved, stating that the government supports punishments ranging from jail sentences to travel bans. Police have arrested approximately 420 individuals in connection with the riots.
The Home Office has introduced a new “rapid response process” to offer greater protection to mosques and quickly address threats to places of worship. Starmer’s spokesperson criticized social media companies for not doing enough to prevent the spread of misinformation that has fueled far-right violence. The spokesperson warned that anyone inciting disorder—online or on the streets—could face imprisonment.
The meeting revealed that some of the false information circulating online has been amplified by bot activity linked to state-backed entities. “The disinformation that we’ve seen online attracts amplification from known bot activity, which, as I say, can be linked to state-backed activity,” the spokesperson noted.
