Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom, says those who took part in violent anti-immigration protests in some parts of the country will face the full force of the law.
In an address on Sunday, Starmer described the protest as an “organised violent thuggery” and vowed that arrests would be made.
Demonstrations in several UK cities escalated during the weekend following a knife attack at a school in Southport that left three children dead.
The attack happened on July 29 during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school. Three girls aged between six and nine died while eight other children suffered stab wounds.
Riots broke out the following day as a large crowd gathered outside a mosque, throwing bottles and bricks at police vans.
Misinformation had spread that the suspected attacker was an immigrant and a radical Islamist, which led the protests to be seized by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups.
Police said the 17-year-old suspect was born in Britain while some media reports added that his family is Christian.
On Saturday, the riots spread to Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester.
Police said dozens of arrests were made as shops and businesses were vandalised and looted while some officers were injured.
In the latest violence, rioters attacked a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Rotherham.
The protesters threw objects and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers during the clashes, and broke hotel windows.
Starmer said there was no justification for the attacks, adding that every right-minded person would condemn the violence. “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves,” Starmer warned.
Earlier Starmer pledged to give police forces the government’s “full support” to take action against “extremists” attempting to “sow hate”.
Yvette Cooper, home secretary, also warned that anyone engaging in “unacceptable disorder” would face imprisonment and travel bans amongst other punishments.
“Criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets,” Cooper said adding that “sufficient” prison places had been made available.
