Digital Worldwide News
UK Rioters Attacked Hotels Housing Immigrants. Then They Burnt Down Cities!
6th August 2024
The UK has been rocked by riots. Over the past few days, the country has seen violent anti-immigrant attacks, leaving many wondering what will happen next. The new UK government is trying to control the worst disorder seen in more than ten years.
In Plymouth, police officers were injured on Monday night as angry crowds took over the coastal city. This is just one incident in a series of violent outbreaks across the country.
A Weekend of Chaos
The weekend was chaotic. Far-right groups set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers. People inside were trapped and terrified. Crowds in other cities damaged public buildings and clashed with police, throwing objects and smashing vehicles.
The violence started late last month. An anti-immigrant campaign fueled anger over a stabbing attack in Southport, northern England. Three children were killed, sparking outrage.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an emergency meeting on Monday morning to discuss the government's response. "This is not protest," he said. "It is organized, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online."
The Start of the Violence
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, violent protesters gathered in city centers across the UK. What started as anti-immigration marches turned violent quickly. Social media platforms like X, WhatsApp, and Telegram were used to organize these protests.
In Rotherham and Tamworth, two Holiday Inn hotels housing asylum seekers were set on fire. In Tamworth, rioters threw projectiles, smashed windows, and started fires, injuring a police officer. In Rotherham, they used wooden planks and fire extinguishers against officers and set fire to objects near the hotel.
Spreading Violence
Violence spread to Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Stoke-on-Trent, and several other cities. The Home Office announced new emergency security measures for mosques across the UK. Over 370 people were arrested over the weekend, and the number is expected to rise as authorities use facial recognition and other technologies to identify those involved.
Prime Minister Starmer condemned the violence, stating, "People in this country have a right to be safe, yet we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, and wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric."
What Caused the Riots?
The immediate trigger for the violence was the stabbing of several children in Southport, northwest England. This rare and shocking incident left three young girls dead. Far-right groups used this tragedy to spread false claims that the attacker was an immigrant, mobilizing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests. However, the police confirmed the suspect was born in Britain.
Anti-migrant rhetoric has grown in the UK in recent years, emboldening far-right sympathizers. Last month’s general election saw Reform UK, a populist right-wing group, pick up the third-most votes, campaigning heavily on immigration.
Political Responses
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, condemned the violence but criticized what he called "soft" policing of previous anti-racism riots and the "fracturing of our communities as a result of mass, uncontrolled migration." Former Conservative Home Secretary Priti Patel and Labour MP Diane Abbott also spoke out against the violence and the rhetoric fueling it.
Social media companies were criticized for allowing far-right figures to spread their messages. Elon Musk’s X platform, in particular, faced scrutiny for allowing Tommy Robinson and similar figures to return, where they continued to reach millions with divisive propaganda.
Future Concerns
As the violence continues, Prime Minister Starmer faces his first major crisis. In 2011, he managed a similar situation as Britain’s Director of Public Prosecutions, swiftly processing rioters and looters. Now, as Prime Minister, he must navigate the crisis with limited prison space and underfunded public services.
Authorities are preparing for more violence, with plans for new protests circulating on messaging apps. ITV News reported that a man convicted of being a member of a banned neo-Nazi organization was present at the Southport protests, sparking further actions nationwide.
Starmer's Challenge
Starmer's handling of the crisis will be closely watched. He ordered courts to stay open longer to process those arrested. However, the public and lawmakers are pressuring him to recall Parliament for a debate on the riots.
The crisis has disrupted Starmer’s post-election honeymoon, and he must now balance responding to the violence with addressing underlying issues of public service underfunding and prison overcapacity.