Far-right rioters have launched attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers in the UK, marking the country’s most severe unrest in over a decade. On Sunday, violence erupted near a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, where rioters threw bricks at police, smashed windows, and set fire to bins.
Lindsey Butterfield, Assistant Chief Constable, denounced the violence and emphasized the responsibility of both the assailants and the inactive bystanders. She reassured us that police are watching the footage and will shortly act against the implicated parties. Later on Sunday, rioters once more targeted a hotel in Tamworth, close to Birmingham, causing further damage and injuries.
This turmoil follows a recent stabbing incident in Southport, where false online rumors falsely identified the suspect as a Muslim immigrant. The actual suspect, Axel Rudakubana, is a British-born teenager. The misinformation fueled further violence, with rioters attacking mosques and ethnic minorities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised a firm response to the far-right rioters, condemning the “far-right thuggery” and pledging that those responsible would face justice. However, critics have slammed Starmer for his slow response, and Labour MP Zarah Sultana has demanded that Parliament be recalled to tackle the crisis.
Extreme right organizations and media sources that support anti-immigrant rhetoric fuel the violence. Prominent leaders like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and Nigel Farage actively promote these attitudes. Years of xenophobic discourse, according to critics, have added to the present upheaval driven by racial hatred and false information.
