Downing Street has confirmed that an emergency Cobra meeting will be held on Monday following a weekend of violent unrest in various UK towns and cities. Over 150 people have been arrested after disturbances erupted in Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Bolton, and other locations.
The violence began after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport last week. The unrest saw attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, vandalism, and clashes with police. Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence, particularly an attack on a Rotherham hotel, and vowed that those involved would face “the full force of the law.”
Cobra meetings, officially known as Cabinet Office Briefing Room A meetings, are emergency response gatherings involving ministers, civil servants, police, and intelligence officers. Monday’s meeting will provide an update on the violence and discuss the government’s response.
The prime minister addressed the nation on Sunday, denouncing the violence as “far-right thuggery” and warning that those responsible would “regret” their actions. The Home Office has announced enhanced protections for mosques and rapid security measures to ensure the safety of places of worship.
In Rotherham, anti-immigration demonstrators clashed with police, injuring at least ten officers, one of whom was left unconscious. The group also vandalized property, including smashing windows and setting fires. Similar violent acts were reported at a second hotel in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and in Middlesbrough, where rioters damaged property and clashed with officers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the scenes “utterly appalling” and stated that police have the government’s backing to take “the strongest action.” Measures under consideration include fast-tracking prosecutions, as was done during the 2011 riots, and deploying additional officers to manage potential unrest.
The violence has also affected other areas, including Belfast, Hartlepool, Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, and Sunderland. Sir Keir Starmer suggested that the response could mirror aspects of the 2011 riots’ handling, with courts potentially operating around the clock to expedite prosecutions.
Source ~ BBC
NNEOMA UDENSI
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