New rioting across UK cities as arrests multiply
The wave of violent unrest and disorder across parts of the UK continued on Monday night as police came under attack in Belfast and Plymouth.
Six people were arrested in Plymouth while several officers suffered minor injuries in the violence, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
In South Belfast riot officers had stones and petrol bombs thrown at them in an area close to a supermarket which was set on fire at the weekend.
Earlier, a vigil was held for the victims of a mass stabbing in Southport last week which sparked the unrest.
Nearly 400 people have been arrested since the rioting began.
In Southport, hundreds of people attended the peaceful memorial a week on from the deaths of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Children blew bubbles and others left flowers and heart-shaped balloons in remembrance of the victims of the stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Merseyside Police have since said one child caught up in the incident remained in hospital but all other patients had been discharged.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 attempted murders and possession of a curved kitchen knife.
The 17-year-old, who was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff, moved to the Southport area in 2013.
PA MediaPolice believe the riots and unrest in towns and cities across the UK was fuelled by false rumours that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Over the weekend the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, condemned the riots as “far-right thuggery” and on Monday he vowed to “ramp up” the law to deal with the violence.
Despite his calls the violence spread to Plymouth.
Devon and Cornwall Police said specialist officers had been deployed on Monday to the Guildhall area at 15:30 BST to deal with a far-right demonstration and a counter protest.
Later in the evening scenes in the city turned violent as a police van was damaged and several officers were injured, the force said.
Supt Russ Dawe said a number of arrests had been made for a “range of public order offences and assaults”.
Speaking at a media briefing, Supt Dawes said he wanted to reassure the community the force was “fully resourced at this time, with a strong police presence”.
Supt Dawe added that those intent on committing crimes and public order would be “dealt with robustly”.
Getty ImagesIn South Belfast, PSNI officers came under attack as riot teams were deployed to Sandy Row.
It followed a weekend of violence which saw businesses damaged after an anti-immigration protest in the city on Saturday.
Police were stood down just after midnight.
In Birmingham on Monday evening, there were disturbances after hundreds of people gathered in the Bordesley Green area of the city following false reports that a far-right march had been planned there.
Palestinian flags were waved and anti-English Defence League chants were heard.
A group of youths later broke away from the gathering and attacked several vehicles and a pub.
West Midlands Police released a statement late on Monday which said officers were investigating reports of an assault and damage to a pub.
The force said: “No arrests have been made at this stage but there were sporadic incidents and we are investigating reports of an assault, incidents of criminal damage to a pub on Stoney Lane, a car which had its windows smashed on Alcombe Grove, Stechford, and further criminal damage to a vehicle which had its tyres damaged on Belchers Lane, Bordesley Green.
“We are also investigating reports of a man who was in possession of an offensive weapon.”
Ch Supt Richard North added: “Fortunately rumours of the significant protest activity in the city didn’t materialise.
“There were several sporadic incidents of criminality during the evening and we will work hard to arrest those responsible.”
A total of 378 arrests have so far been made nationally since the rioting began on Tuesday, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Police said they are working “around the clock” to identify and arrest more people.
Those who have been charged in connection with riots in parts of England appeared on Monday in various magistrates courts – including in Liverpool, South Tyneside and in Hull.
The Law Society has demanded the right support and resources for courts dealing with offenders.
Northumbria PoliceAfter chairing an emergency Cobra meeting of ministers and senior police chiefs, Sir Keir announced a “standing army” of specialist officers to tackle the disorder.
A Downing Street spokesperson said later there were no plans for the military to be involved
The government was working with social media companies to ensure misinformation and disinformation is removed, the spokesperson said.
Elsewhere, Neil Basu – former head of counter-terrorism at the Metropolitan Police – told the BBC he felt some acts had “crossed the line into terrorism“.
But, the prime minister rejected calls for Parliament to be recalled from its summer recess in the face of the riots.
He insisted there is a focus on ensuring police are able to carry out their duties.
Sir Keir said: “My focus is on making sure that we stop this disorder, that the criminal sanctions are swift and be seen to be followed.”
Downing Street also criticised X owner Elon Musk for claiming “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, with officials suggesting online misinformation fuelling disorder on Britain’s streets might be amplified by foreign state actors.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled to Stormont early following violent protests in Belfast last weekend.
