The recent days of unrest following the stabbing deaths of three young girls in the United Kingdom have led to some of the most severe riots the nation has experienced in several years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday the formation of a “standing army” of specialized police to address the riots and indicated that measures would be taken to strengthen the justice system in response to the hundreds of arrests related to the violent disturbances that have unfolded nationwide in the past week.
“Regardless of the reasons behind it, this should not be categorized as protest; it is sheer violence, and we will not accept any attacks on mosques or our communities of faith,” Starmer stated on Monday. “We will ensure that the entire weight of the law is brought down on all individuals identified as participants.”
Violent protests involving large groups have resulted in significant disorder in numerous towns and cities throughout the country.
RIOTS BREAK OUT IN UK FOLLOWING STABBING INCIDENT INCORRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO ASYLUM SEEKER
On Monday, people cleared debris at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, after rioters vandalized the property and set fires. (Dave Higgens/PA via AP)
Over the last six days, numerous police officers have been hospitalized due to injuries sustained from being hit by bricks, bottles, chairs, and large wooden objects.
On Sunday, enraged mobs targeted two hotels that were accommodating asylum seekers, breaking windows and igniting fires until police intervened and evacuated residents.
Numerous officers were taken to the hospital due to injuries after being assaulted with various objects. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Starmer pointed to the role of misinformation circulated on social media as inciting the violence that followed a stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport, which resulted in the tragic deaths of three young girls and injuries to others.
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False posts on social media alleged that the suspect in the attacks was a radical Islamist who had just arrived in the U.K., but police later identified the suspect as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a Welsh-born boy of Rwandan descent, and ruled out any connection to terrorism.
Police officers confront protesters during an anti-immigration demonstration outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, on Sunday. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
In the U.K., individuals under 18 typically remain unnamed, but the judge in this case allowed for the suspect’s identity to be released to counter the spread of misinformation. The accused teen is facing three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
Starmer’s representative stated on Monday that social media platforms have not taken sufficient action to prevent the dissemination of false information, some of which originates from foreign state actors.
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“The online disinformation we have observed is often amplified by known bot activity, which has connections to state-sponsored efforts,” the spokesperson explained.
Fox News’ Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
