Starmer Vows Far-Right Rioters Will ‘Regret’ Worst Disorder in Years

AFP/APP

Rotherham: Keir Starmer, the newly elected Labour leader, warned far-right protesters on Sunday that they would “regret” their participation in the worst rioting England has seen in 13 years. The violence, linked to the murder of three children earlier in the week, has sparked disturbances across the country.

Masked anti-immigration demonstrators targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, smashing windows and pushing a burning bin into the building. The unrest, driven by misinformation about a mass stabbing in Southport, has spread to various towns and cities, with clashes between anti-immigration protesters and police.

Starmer, who assumed leadership only a month ago, faces a significant challenge. In a TV address, he condemned what he described as “far-right thuggery” and promised to bring those responsible to justice. He emphasized that there was “no justification” for the violence and warned both direct participants and online instigators that they would face consequences.

The BBC reported footage of rioters breaking into a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham. Although ten officers were injured, local police confirmed that neither hotel staff nor clients were harmed. In Middlesbrough, hundreds of protesters confronted riot police, hurling bricks, cans, and pots, and seizing and breaking a camera from an AFP crew. The journalists were not injured.

The disturbances have resulted in over 150 arrests since Saturday, with far-right rallies occurring in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, Hull, and Belfast. The violence, involving thrown bricks, bottles, and flares, has led to injuries among police officers and damage to shops. Protesters have also targeted mosques, prompting the UK interior ministry to offer increased security to Islamic places of worship.

The unrest follows a frenzied knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, where 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana is accused of killing three children and injuring ten others. The violence has been exacerbated by false rumors on social media about Rudakubana’s background.

The English Defence League, an anti-Islam organization, has been linked to the violence, with agitators attacking mosques and promoting anti-immigration sentiments. Far-right rallies, advertised under the slogan “Enough is enough,” have featured chants against irregular migrants and displays of English and British flags.

Counter-protests by anti-fascist groups have been held in many cities, including Leeds, where demonstrators chanted, “Nazi scum off our streets,” while far-right protesters responded with “You’re not English any more.”

Not all gatherings have turned violent. A peaceful demonstration in Aldershot saw participants with placards reading “Stop the invasion” and “We’re not far right, we’re just right.”

Karina, a 41-year-old from Nottingham, expressed frustration at being labeled as far-right, stating, “People are fed up with being told you should be ashamed if you’re white and working class but I’m proud white working class.”

The recent election saw the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, capture 14 percent of the vote, reflecting a significant far-right presence. Carla Denyer of the Green party called the unrest a “wake-up call” for politicians who have promoted anti-immigration rhetoric.