LONDON:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cancelled a planned holiday to focus on his government’s response to recent racist riots targeting Muslims and migrants, according to a Downing Street source. Thousands of police officers remained on duty over the weekend as a precaution against further violence, though for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, counter-protesters outnumbered anti-migration demonstrators in several towns and cities.
The anonymous source confirmed that Starmer would not be going on holiday next week. The government has expedited the processing of those arrested and charged in connection with the riots. As of Friday, 741 arrests had been made since the unrest began, with 302 individuals charged. Police indicated that arrests would likely continue for months.
On Saturday, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced that specialist officers were tasked with pursuing online offenders and influencers who spread hate and incited violence. Chris Haward, the NPCC’s lead for serious and organised crime, stated that online crimes would be treated as seriously as physical violence.
At least two people were recently jailed for inciting racial hatred through social media messages. The riots were sparked by false online claims that the suspected killer of three young girls in a knife attack on 29 July in Southport, northwest England, was an Islamist migrant.
King Charles, on Friday, called for mutual respect and understanding, praising community groups for countering the “aggression and criminality from a few,” according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.