Yobs light fires & hurl missiles at migrant hotels in Tamworth & Rotherham as scenes of violence sweep the UK
THUGS smashed up two hotels for asylum seekers amid more shameful scenes of violence across the UK.
Yobs lit fires and hurled missiles at Holiday Inns in Rotherham and Tamworth, Staffs. There were clashes in other towns.
PM Sir Keir Starmer said those involved would face the “full force of the law”.
In a hard-hitting message from Downing Street, the PM told them: “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.”
He went on: “This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.
“All right-minded people should be condemning this sort of violence. People in this country have a right to be safe.
“And yet, we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted.
“I won’t shy away from calling this what it is: Far-right thuggery.”
Towns and cities hit — the fifth day of violence — included Rotherham, Aldershot in Hants, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Manchester, Hull and Weymouth, Dorset.
Terrifying footage from Rotherham showed masked yobs kicking out windows to storm the Holiday Inn Express, which houses migrants.
Another Holiday Inn where asylum seekers are thought to stay was set alight in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
The thugs in Rotherham forced their way past cops into the hotel after pelting them with bricks, bottles and even fence panels. Some then hurled chairs.
Fire broke out as they chanted: “Get them out.”
Placards carried by far-right supporters had slogans such as “stop the boats” and, in a cruel barb aimed at asylum seekers: “Men don’t flee war.”
Another made reference to Enoch Powell’s inflammatory 1968 Rivers of Blood speech.
The thugs chased away around 100 counter-protesters.
At least one injured cop was seen being carried by colleagues, while a number of protesters were handcuffed as police battled to regain control.
The nationwide disorder has been fuelled by online lies following the murders of three girls in Southport on Monday.
Posts wrongly claimed suspect Axel Rudakubana, 17, was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Demonstrations were promoted on X/Twitter by former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson — from the safety of an all-inclusive resort on the outskirts of Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
The 41-year-old is understood to be staying at a £400-a-night chalet bungalow with his family.
He has been seen lazing on sun loungers and taking dips in a pool.
A series of inflammatory posts he shared with his 800,000 followers include ones blasting the PM and police for cracking down on rioters.
But last night he insisted: “I am not at fault.”
Meanwhile another migrant hotel, this time in Aldershot, was also targeted.
A group of men outside Potters International Hotel brandished a banner insisting: “We’re not far right, we’re just right.”
At Middlesbrough’s Cenotaph, hundreds of protesters squared up to police before throwing slate, cans and pots at the officers.
A group of masked yobs walked through a residential area using metal bars and wooden posts to smash car windscreens and the windows of terraced houses.
Vehicles were torched, along with wheelie bins.
One victim, a white man in his 40s who did not want to be named, said: “I’m born and bred in Middlesbrough and these morons target my house just for the hell of it. I could hear them yelling about immigrants, but they were smashing cars and house windows indiscriminately.
“They’re the scum of the earth.”
Cleveland Police confirmed a number of arrests had been made and warned the public to avoid the area.
In the centre of Bolton, large crowds of anti-immigration demonstrators gathered along with counter-protesters while police tried to keep them apart.
An anti-immigrant rally on Weymouth seafront was met by a counter-protest.
Three far-right sympathisers were said to have been handcuffed and arrested trying to break through police lines.
There was a large turnout in Hull, scene of earlier violence.
Greater Manchester Police said a Section 34 dispersal notice had been authorised until 10pm yesterday, giving officers extra powers to deal with anyone causing anti-social behaviour.
Chief Inspector Natasha Evans said the force was acting to “prevent serious disruption and ensure everyone can go about their lives without fear or risk of harm”.
Merseyside Police introduced two Section 60 orders in Liverpool and Southport between 2pm yesterday and 2am today, giving officers greater stop-and-search powers.
Last night faith leaders in Merseyside issued a joint statement calling for calm and urging people to hold the families of Southport stabbing victims Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at “the forefront of all our thoughts”.
They said: “Division can destroy the very relationships and environment that we depend upon every day of our lives and there is no place for hate in our communities.
“It can — and has — left communities in fear and has put people in danger. At this difficult time, let us remember that there is far more that unites than divides us.
“The people of all faiths and none who came out to sweep the streets, to rebuild walls and have so generously donated money in memory of those three girls — that is the spirit that will help us through this incredibly challenging time.”
Since the horror a week ago, the country has been plagued by riots.
‘Allowing hate’ rap on social websites
By Mike Sullivan and Emily-Jane Heap
SOCIAL media giants were last night accused of fanning the flames of hatred by allowing riots to be organised on their sites.
Former Met Chief Supt Simon Ovens said: “All of this chaos is being run on social media.
“Why are social media companies allowing their platforms to be used for racist, criminal thuggery?”
Essex Chief Constable B.J. Harrington said the online companies “have a responsibility” to stop the spread of hate.
Tech Against Terrorism founder Adam Hadley last night added: “The internet is being exploited and manipulated. A number of platforms amplify polarising content for profit.”
Last week, PM Sir Keir Starmer warned social media companies that hate “happening on your premises” is also a crime.
On Wednesday, 111 people were arrested in London and 11 more in Hartlepool, two in Manchester and two in Aldershot.
On Friday, violence erupted outside a Liverpool mosque.
Saturday saw forces pushed to the brink with more than 100 arrests and dozens of officers hurt.
Trouble flared in Belfast, Blackpool, Stoke, Leeds, Hull, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Last night National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for public order, BJ Harrington, said leave had been cancelled by many forces and 4,000 officers put on standby.
Mr Harrington warned those involved in disorder: “Make no mistake, if you haven’t had a knock on the door yet, your time will come.”
He said fake news inflamed the trouble and urged social media users to be careful what they share, adding: “Think twice before you act.”
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson suggested courts could sit overnight to ensure “thugs who maraud our streets” are brought to justice.
Similar action was taken in the wake of the 2011 London riots.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced new emergency measures to protect mosques.
Those at risk of violent disorder will be offered additional security personnel.
She said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country, and nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the hooligans, thugs and extremist groups who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops or attacking people based on the colour of their skin.
“In light of the disgraceful threats and attacks that local mosques have also faced in many communities, the Government is providing rapid additional support through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.”