British PM calls emergency meeting over riots

Far-right protests continue in Britain, often resulting in violence. Prime Minister Keith Starmer on Monday spent emergency meeting with ministers and heads of law enforcement agencies and security services.

Starmer described the current demonstrations as “not protests, but violence” and called for a “robust army of specialist officers” to maintain order. The prime minister did not say whether he meant just police officers or whether he was talking about the military being called in.

Besides, transmits BBC: Starmer said it should not just be those who cause riots on the streets who should be prosecuted, but also those who call for them online.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedthat prisons have already been prepared for a “gangster minority of criminals”, and additional forces of investigators and prosecutors have been brought in. She said that since the beginning of the protests, more than 140 people have been arrested who attacked police officers or caused harm to others during demonstrations. Cooper said that such people do not represent the voice of the British people and must answer for their actions under the law.

• Mass demonstrations by the far right have engulfed Great Britain since a 17-year-old teenager attacked visitors and workers at a children’s dance club in Southport on July 29 with a knife. As a result, three girls aged between six and ten were killed, and about ten more people were injured.
• The far right is calling the attack an act of Islamist terrorism, despite police saying the attacker was British and has no affiliation with radical Islam. They are demanding the expulsion of migrants from Britain and have attacked mosques and Muslim communities. The protests have included violence, arson and looting.
• The police believe that the active core of the rioters are supporters of the nationalist English Defence League. The supporters of this organisation are linked to football hooligans. Formally, the League does not exist. The riots that broke out are called the most widespread in the country in the last 10 years.
• On Monday, the foreign ministries of several countries, including Australia, Nigeria and Malaysia, published warnings to its citizens, advising them to postpone travel to the UK until the situation normalizes.