Violent riots against immigrants have swept across Britain in recent days, forcing the new UK government to grapple with one of the worst situations of the decade. Police officers were injured in Plymouth on Monday night as angry crowds descended on the southwestern English coastal city.
The latest outburst of violence followed right-wing extremists setting fire to hotels housing asylum seekers in two cities, leaving those inside trapped and terrified, while rioters in other towns damaged public buildings and clashed with the police.
The protests initially erupted at the end of last month after a disinformation campaign against immigrants fueled outrage over a knife attack that left three children dead in Southport, northern England. Prime Minister Keir Starmer led his first COBRA meeting on Monday morning to discuss the unrest. “This is not a protest. It is organized violence that has no place on our streets or online,” he said.
The unrest is Starmer’s first crisis since becoming the leader of Britain a month ago, after his Labour Party ousted the Conservatives in the general election. In total, more than 370 people have been arrested following the weekend’s violence, with the number expected to rise as police continue to identify those involved in the turmoil.
