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Starmer: Violent protesters will face the force of the law

2024-08-05 16:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Starmer: Violent protesters will face the force of the law

British officials as they go to a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the recent unrest in Britain. Source, Reuters

Britain and Northern Ireland were engulfed in violent protests last week after three young women were killed in a knife attack. The protests, which have been largely directed against Muslim immigrants, were sparked by the spread of a false story by right-wing activists that the perpetrator of the attack was a Muslim immigrant who had recently arrived in Britain. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today held an emergency meeting with ministers and senior law enforcement officials, as part of efforts to end street violence and attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.

The British prime minister said his government would use the "full force of the law" against violent protesters who have wreaked havoc in Britain and Northern Ireland for a week.

"Hundreds of arrests have been made. Some have appeared in court today. I have called for the speedy identification of those involved in the violence, who will feel the full force of the law. I have been absolutely clear that the criminal law applies also for what is published on the Internet and I am sure that this is the approach that is being implemented," said Prime Minister Starmer.

Riots erupted last week after three girls were killed in a knife attack in the town of Southport in northwest England. 420 individuals have been arrested so far.

Anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups spread misinformation online that the suspected attacker was a radical Islamist who had just arrived in Britain.

According to the police, the suspect was born in Britain and according to media reports, his family is Christian and the case in Southport is not being treated by the police as a terrorist incident.

"Whatever the motive, this is not protest. It is pure violence. We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities. The full force of the law will be used against all those identified as having participated in these activities. ”, said Prime Minister Starmer.

Shops and businesses were vandalized and looted, a library in Liverpool was set on fire and several police officers were injured, police reports said. On Sunday, protesters set fire to hotels used to house asylum seekers in northern England.

Londoners also condemned the protests.

"The violence is disgusting. Nothing justifies this kind of violence against innocent people. I think the protesters are believing the lies on the internet," said Carmen Holdsworth Delgado, a resident of London.

"It really upsets me that we are so intolerant as a nation. However, I do not think that the people who are doing this are representative of society. However, this is how we look to the world now and it's very worrying," says Alan Willis.

Other Londoners, who say they are ex-immigrants, do not believe the violence the country is experiencing is a true reflection of Britain.

"I'm not afraid. The people of the United Kingdom are very friendly. I am not afraid at all", says Ola Akande, a resident of London.

"I don't think violence is ingrained in British society. I think it is an extremely disturbing wave that is sweeping Europe. The rise of the extreme right is happening in France where my husband is from. This is happening in Italy. All my friends are immigrants. Immigration is essential for any environment to build it", says Debra Salvoni.

The last time violent protests broke out across Britain was in August 2011, when thousands took to the streets after police shot dead a 29-year-old man in London, whose parents were of African and Caribbean descent.

At that time Prime Minister Starmer was the Director of Public Prosecution./ VOA