UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to hold an emergency response meeting on Monday after a new wave of far-right riots erupted across England following the murder of three children last week.
Starmer will chair the meeting, which will include ministers and police officials, to address the violence that began in Southport, northwest England, on Tuesday.
Hundreds have been arrested nationwide as anti-immigration demonstrators and rioters clashed with police and counter-protesters, including groups of Muslims.
The unrest was sparked by last Monday’s tragedy in Southport, where three young girls were killed, and five other children critically injured during a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
On Sunday, Starmer warned the rioters they would “regret” their actions in what has become England’s worst disorder in 13 years.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper told the BBC on Monday that “there will be a reckoning.”
Police have attributed the violence to supporters and affiliates of the English Defence League, an anti-Islam organization linked to football hooliganism.
Some of the most severe incidents occurred on Sunday in Rotherham, where masked rioters smashed windows at a hotel housing asylum seekers, injuring at least 10 officers, including one who was knocked unconscious.
Similar violent scenes unfolded in Bolton and Middlesbrough, resulting in smashed windows, damaged cars, and 43 arrests.
In Middlesbrough, protesters seized and broke a camera from an AFP crew, although the journalists were unharmed.
Late Sunday, Staffordshire police reported another hotel known to shelter asylum seekers was targeted near Birmingham.
A group of individuals threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires, and attacked police, injuring one officer.
This violence presents a significant challenge for Starmer, who was elected just a month ago after leading Labour to a landslide victory over the Conservatives.
“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder. Whether directly or those whipping up this action online, and then running away themselves,” Starmer stated on Sunday.
He condemned the “far-right thuggery” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
MPs from various parties have called on Starmer to recall parliament from its summer recess, including Conservative former interior minister Priti Patel, Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Over the weekend, more than 150 arrests were made as rioters hurled bricks, bottles, and flares at police, injuring several officers.
The rioters looted and burned shops while shouting anti-Islamic slurs during clashes with counter-protesters.
Authorities indicated that the initial violence was partly fueled by false rumors on social media about the background of British-born 17-year-old suspect Axel Rudakubana, who is accused of the murders and injuring another 10 people.
Cooper stated on Monday that social media had acted as a “rocket booster” for the violence.
Agitators have also targeted at least two mosques, prompting the government to offer new emergency security measures for Islamic places of worship.
The rallies have been promoted on far-right social media channels under the banner “Enough is enough,” with participants waving English and British flags and chanting slogans like “Stop the boats,” referring to irregular migrants crossing the Channel from France.
In response, anti-fascist demonstrators have organized counter-rallies in multiple cities.
Last month’s election saw the Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Farage, capture 14 percent of the vote, marking one of the largest vote shares for a hard-right British party.
