Starmer tells rioters ‘you will regret it’ as far-right violence escalates in Rotherham – live

South Yorkshire police said at least 10 officers have been injured – including one who was left unconscious – as a result of “deplorable acts of violence” outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel in the Manvers area of Rotherham.

“We absolutely condemn the scenes of disorder we witnessed, with a total of around 700 people in attendance in Manvers Way earlier today,” a statement said.

“A number of people threw planks of wood at our officers and sprayed them with fire extinguishers before smashing hotel windows to gain access to the premises.

“A large bin close to a window of the hotel was also set alight causing a small fire which was later extinguished, with missiles, including glass bottles and beer cans, thrown at our officers.

“At least 10 officers have been injured as a result of the violence, with one left unconscious following a head injury, another suffering a suspected fractured elbow and others suffering suspected broken bones.

“No hotel employees or residents have been reported as injured as a result of today’s disorder.”

One person has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences in Rotherham, South Yorkshire police said.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield said: “Today in Rotherham we have seen our officers attacked and at least 10 injured, significant damage caused and a fire set outside a hotel full of terrified residents and staff.

“The mindless actions of those today have achieved nothing other than sheer destruction and leaving members of the public and the wider community in fear.

“The behaviour we witnessed has been nothing short of disgusting. While it was a smaller number of those in attendance who chose to commit violence and destruction, those who simply stood on and watched remain absolutely complicit in this.

“Those who choose to spread misinformation and hate online also need to take responsibility for the scenes today – this was not a protest, just angry people, reacting to a false narrative who have their own motivations for doing so.”

A third man has been charged with committing violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday.

A group were seen on Stanley Street charging and swearing at officers, and throwing missiles, police said.

Lloyd Killner, 35 years, of Burton Road, Lincoln has been charged with violent disorder.

He has been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool magistrates court at 9.45am on Monday.

Two men have been charged with committing violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday, Merseyside police said.

Officers witnessed a group throwing stones, bricks and missiles at officers in the Paradise Street area.

Jimmy Bailey, 45, of Station Avenue, Ellesmere Port, has been charged with violent disorder.

He has been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool magistrates court at 9.45am on Monday.

Declan Geiran, 29, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, will appear at the same court after he was charged with violent disorder and arson (to a police vehicle).

An attempt was made to set a police van alight while it was parked in William Brown Street on Saturday. The flames were quickly extinguished before significant damage or harm could be caused, the force said.

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The acts of violence seen across the country this weekend have involved criminality of the most serious kind. I want there to be no doubt about our determination to ensure that those involved will face severe consequences.

“This weekend, we deployed extra lawyers and will continue to work around the clock in the coming days to make sure that law and order is maintained, and justice is served.

“I have directed prosecutors to make immediate charging decisions where key evidence is in place and they are doing so.

“I am determined that we will act swiftly and robustly, giving the courts maximum ability to pass sentences that reflect what has occurred.”

The former chair of the defence select committee has encouraged the government to consider calling in the army if police forces continue to be overwhelmed during the riots.

Tobias Ellwood, posting on X, said: “If our police forces continue to be overwhelmed I’d encourage the Gov to call in the Army.

“To be clear what such a MACA request (Military Aid to Civil Authorities) means – it allows police on protection duties (such as guarding Gov buildings) to be freed to bolster the front line.”

It comes amid a call to recall parliament from some MPs, including lan Byrne, the member for Liverpool West Derby.

The sight of demonstrators attacking a hotel in the belief it is housing migrants is “almost incomprehensible”, the managing director of the Hope not Hate advocacy group has said.

Nick Lowles said he was “lost for words” to describe the scenes at a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham.

“The fact that hundreds of people have targeted a hotel that is housing migrants, it is almost incomprehensible,” he told Sky News.

“They knew that people were in that hotel and they consciously tried to set fire to it.

“Communities are so scared, we have to rebuild.”

Lowles said agitators have been over-simplifying stories to whip up hate.

The Scottish first minister, John Swinney, has warned against “unhelpful speculation” relating to the stabbing of a woman in Stirling.

The woman, 21, was treated in hospital for a “non-life threatening” injury on Saturday and a 29-year-old man was arrested in relation to the attack, which took place at about 8.20pm on the town’s King Street.

Social media reports on Saturday suggested three people had been stabbed and the attacker had appeared to be Muslim.

However, in an unusual move for the force, Police Scotland said the man arrested was white and from the local area.

The rumour had been promoted by Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League (EDL).

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the riots across England and Northern Ireland, stating they have “nothing to do with” the Southport stabbings.

The Conservative party leader said: “The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport.

“This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society.

“The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full weight of the law.”

Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, and deputy first minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, have said those involved in violence on the streets of Belfast should be “quickly brought before the courts”.

In a joint statement, O’Neill and Little-Pengelly said: “Whilst people are entitled to peaceful protest, there is no justification for racism or the violence and intimidation that occurred on Saturday.

“Those involved should be quickly brought before the courts and we appeal to anyone with information to provide that information to the PSNI.

“We reiterate our joint commitment to a shared, peaceful and inclusive society.”

In his address to the country, Keir Starmer pledged to “do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice as quickly as possible” amid the violence which has spread since the Southport killings.

He told reporters that time has been spent over recent days working with police and the justice system to “make sure that the necessary arrangements for law enforcement are in place”.

It means the system can get “arrests, charge, remand and custody and conviction done very quickly”.

Noting that he was part of that system when he was director of public prosecutions, he added: “I am determined we will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice as quickly as possible.”

Greater Manchester police said extra powers have now been given to police after section 60 and section 60AA were authorised across Bolton until 10pm, following an early section 34 dispersal notice.

A force statement said: “Under a section 60, officers have extra powers to stop and search people in defined areas within a specific timeframe.

“A section 60AA authority allows us to require people to remove face coverings used to disguise or conceal their appearance.

“These temporary powers will be enforced until 10pm today (Sunday 4 August 2024) and have been authorised as part of our policing response to keep communities safe and prevent harm and disorder with increased protest activity.”

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said £29.4m of funding is being offered to provide greater protection for Mosques, following attacks on places of worship in riots across England and Northern Ireland.

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.

Cooper said: “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.”

Keir Starmer said he could “guarantee” rioters will “regret taking part in this disorder” as he condemned an attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and branded the action “far-right thuggery”.

The prime minister vowed “we will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” as he addressed the nation following ongoing unrest across parts of the country.

He added: “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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia has issued a travel warning to Malaysians in the United Kingdom, following riots in England and Northern Ireland.

In a statement, it said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the High Commission of Malaysia in London, United Kingdom is closely monitoring the series of protests currently taking place in several areas of the United Kingdom, following the stabbing incident in Southport on 29 July 2024.

“Malaysians residing in or travelling to the United Kingdom are urged to stay away from the protest areas, remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and guidance provided by local authorities.

“Malaysians who have not yet registered with the High Commission of Malaysia in London are strongly encouraged to do so immediately to ensure they receive timely information and assistance. Malaysians requiring consular assistance can contact the High Commission.”

A group of rioters in Middlesbrough walked through a residential area smashing the windows of houses and cars.

One person threw a piece of broken glass through the window of a home. Another of the group used a racial slur while shouting which car “are we going to smash next?”

Yet another replied “because we’re English” when asked by a resident why they were breaking windows.

A scuffle broke out between rioters and a small group of people whose cars were smashed.

A woman shouted “you fascist thugs” while a man who was with her shouted at police: “You’re letting them rampage through the city.”

Here is a summary of the day so far:

• Police faced scenes of violent disorder on Sunday outside a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, believed to house asylum seekers, as a large group of far-right rioters clashed with officers, setting fire to a bin, smashing windows and throwing objects. At least one injured officer in riot gear was carried away by colleagues as a police helicopter circled overhead. Videos from social media appeared to show some of the rioters storming the hotel. About 100 people turned up earlier for a Stand Up to Racism counter-protest but left before the violence erupted.

• More than 300 people started marching through Middlesbrough at 4.25pm after gathering at the city’s cenotaph. They carried a banner saying: “Tom Jones is Welsh, Axel Rudakubana isn’t” and chanted “We want our country back” as they made their way through the city centre. At one point police used dogs to keep the group back and stop them breaking through and running ahead of the officers patrolling the march. At least two people were taken away in handcuffs within the first half hour, while several pieces of slate were thrown, along with vapes and full plastic bottles.

• At least 100 arrests have been made across England and Northern Ireland, including in London, Hartlepool, Bristol, Belfast, Southport, Hull, Stoke-on-Trent and Liverpool, and some charges have been brought, with police warning of more to come once footage has been scoured.

• Keir Starmer held crisis talks with ministers on Saturday over the unrest, with justice secretary Shabana Mahmood telling colleagues “the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible”.

• No 10 has said Keir Starmer will be working from London as always planned over the coming week, rejecting rumours that the prime minister was planning to take time off despite the riots. Robert Jenrick, the Conservative leadership candidate, had called on him to “abandon this Nero-esque holiday”.

• Ministers will take a “nick them quick” approach to rioters, with plans for courts to sit for 24 hours to deal with suspects, but said there was no need to bring in the army. After violent disorder in a number of towns and cities, Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said it was “absolutely” the plan to carry out swift arrests, charging and sentencing. The approach is aimed at taking rioters off the streets as quickly as possible and to act as a deterrent.

• Merseyside police have introduced two section 60 orders giving officers greater stop and search powers in Liverpool and Southport. The orders were put in place at 2pm on Sunday and will stay active for a 12-hour period until 2am on Monday. The orders cover areas across Liverpool and Southport and are designed to prevent serious violence

• A dispersal notice has been authorised covering Bolton today until 10pm, Greater Manchester police said. The section 34 notice will mean officers have extra powers to deal with anyone taking part in causing antisocial behaviour in the defined areas. Officers will also be able to instruct and advise anyone who is causing – or very likely to cause – harassment, alarm, or distress to leave an area immediately.

• A group holding anti-immigration placards and England flags stationed themselves outside the Potters International hotel, in Aldershot, on Sunday. It’s a building believed to be used to house asylum seekers. Placards with messages such as “Stop the invasion” and “House our homeless first” were held aloft.

• Counter-protests have taken place in Rotherham and Lancaster. Campaign group, Stand Up to Racism, have organised at least seven unity rallies and counter-protests today. They are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, Bolton, Cardiff, Derby, Lancaster, Rotherham and Weymouth.

• The government has been “reassured” that police have the resources they need to deal with disorder, the policing minister said. Asked whether enough was being done to tackle the unrest, Diana Johnson told BBC News she wanted to send “a very clear message” that those involved would be brought to justice. It came as the Police Federation voiced concerns that officers may not be able to attend other incidents as they scramble to respond to the widespread disorder.

• “We’ve had riots and clashes of this nature, but they have been pocketed in particular areas of the country. We’re now seeing it flooding across major cities and towns,” Tiffany Lynch, acting national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales told BBC Breakfast on Sunday.

• Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram has condemned the “thugs” who torched a recently renovated library last night. The Spellow Lane library hub, which was opened last year to provide support for one of the most deprived communities in the country, suffered severe damage. Police said rioters tried to prevent firefighters from accessing the blaze.

• Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Davy Beck said the force is dealing with a number of reports of criminal damage, assault and arson in Belfast after violent disorder. Beck said three police officers had sustained injuries. A cafe and a supermarket in south Belfast were badly damaged by fire after attacks which followed rioting in the city. A number of cars were also burnt out as the police attempted to deal with the disorder in the Donegall Road area which lasted several hours on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

• Irish premier Simon Harris has “expressed disgust at those flying the Irish tricolour while attacking police and spouting racism”, a spokesperson from the taoiseach’s office has said. Harris and Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill spoke after violent scenes followed an anti-immigration rally in Belfast.

• Stormont leaders including first minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly and justice minister Naomi Long have condemned the violence in Belfast. Stormont’s justice minister Naomi Long said there can be no place for “xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia” in Northern Ireland. Long commended the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for their response to disturbances in Belfast on Saturday and sent her best wishes to officers who were injured.

• A “small but violent” group brought “unacceptable disorder and violence to the streets of Bristol last night”, a police and crime commissioner said. “This behaviour is not protest. It is not an expression of legitimate concern. It is criminal,” Clare Moody, the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset said.

• The surge in extreme rightwing activity in the past week has led to a fivefold increase in threats to Muslims, such as of rape and death, and a threefold increase in hate crime incidents, a national monitoring group said on Sunday. Muslims in Britain have been left “terrorised” by the increase in extreme rightwing activity since Monday, which is directly linked to a large increase in anti-Islamic hate crimes, according to initial analysis from Tell Mama.

• A police and crime commissioner has been criticised for saying “protest groups” in the wake of the Southport stabbings are focused on “the desire to protect Britain’s sovereignty, the need to uphold British values and in order to do this stop illegal immigration”. Donna Jones, a Conservative party politician who has been Hampshire police and crime commissioner since 2021 and also chairs the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, had said “arresting people” is “treating the symptom and not the cause”. The statement, published on the Hampshire PCC website, now appears to have been deleted

• Scenes of violence and disorder in Hull last night were at odds with the city’s “heritage for acceptance and tolerance”, the Humberside police and crime commissioner said. “The scenes witnessed are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Jonathan Evison said.

• Volunteers who turned up armed with brushes this morning to clean up the mess made during last night’s disorder are “what Hull is all about”, a councillor for the city has said. Jack Haines, who is the portfolio holder for communities, said his community is “tolerant” and “united”. Street cleaning teams in Hull worked through the night to ensure the city was open for business on Sunday. Volunteers turned up with brushes from 7am to assist council crews. Areas within the city have largely reopened following Saturday’s disorder, but a number of shops remain closed.

The surge in extreme rightwing activity in the past week has led to a fivefold increase in threats to Muslims, such as of rape and death, and a threefold increase in hate crime incidents, a national monitoring group said on Sunday.

Muslims in Britain have been left “terrorised” by the increase in extreme rightwing activity since Monday, which is directly linked to a large increase in anti-Islamic hate crimes, according to initial analysis from Tell Mama.

Tell Mama is a monitoring group that tracks complaints of anti-Muslim hate crimes. It says the increase in fear Muslims have experienced is directly linked to the extreme far right.

A total of 10 mosques, the charity says, have faced attacks or threats, including Islamic places of worship in Southport, Liverpool and Hartlepool.

The charity says people have been left too scared to leave their homes, with women wearing head coverings such as the hijab facing threats in the street.

The increases are from initial figures collected from 26 July to 2 August, and are compared with the same period last year. The data includes incidents online and in the real world.

The charity says the figure a year ago was already higher than normal because of a rise in hate crime incidents triggered by the Israel-Gaza conflict. The full data will be released soon, and the experience of Tell Mama, and the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Jewish hate incidents, is that threats and attacks are underreported.