Monday, August 5, 2024

Prisons ready for ‘thuggish criminals’, says home secretary after riots target mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers

 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold an emergency meeting with police chiefs on Monday after days of violent anti-immigration protests intensified, with buildings and vehicles torched and hotels holding asylum seekers targeted.

Riots have erupted across towns and cities in the last week after three girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport in northwest England, with 420 people arrested so far.   


'We will find you,' police officer warns rioterspublished at 11:18

Rounding off the brief update, Lindsey Butterfield describes violence that occurred at a hotel in Wath upon Dearne, near Rotherham.

She says there was a "particularly sickening moment" when a wheelie bin was pushed against a hotel and set on fire with "the clear intent to cause serious harm to the residents and staff".

The police worked through the night to identify those who attended the unrest, she says, issuing a warning to those who took part, saying "we will find you".  

In Southport a community is pulling together, united in grief 


It’s a week since the deaths of three little girls set in motion a chain of events around the country, but here in Southport it’s those children who are at the heart of everyone’s thoughts.

More tributes have been left for Bebe, Elsie and Alice over the weekend, including Taylor Swift friendship bracelets and chalk written messages on the pavement by other children.  


At least 12 police officers were injured during disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield, of South Yorkshire Police, said the injuries followed “a day and night of violence and disorder”, adding: “I can confirm today that we have seen at least 12 of our officers injured with items such as bricks, fenceposts, branches and other missiles thrown at them.

“Our police dogs suffered minor injuries after missiles were launched at them and horses had bricks, eggs, bottles and beer cans thrown at their heads.

“They were spat at and threats made to cut the saddles in an attempt to injure the riders.” 


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/aug/05/cobra-emergency-meeting-keir-starmer-far-right-riots-uk-politics-live-latest#top-of-blog   


https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cw5yyynpwnzt