Riots and disorder in the UK: Top prosecutor considers terrorism charges over riots, as PM calls emergency meeting (2024)

Summary

The director of public prosecutions in England and Wales says he is "willing" to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting tonight on efforts to tackle the unrest
Suspects have been appearing in court after a week of violence in the UK, with 100 people charged and more than 400 arrested
In Belfast, a man in his 50s is in a serious condition in hospital after what police are treating as a racially motivated hate attack
The disorder follows the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport – subsequent unrest has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far right and anti-immigration sentiment

Live Reporting

Edited by Jamie Whitehead

Man jailed for two months after pleading guilty to criminal damagepublished at 18:41
18:41
A man from Bolton is thought to be the first person to receive aprison sentence in relation to widespread unrest in the UK over the last week.
James Nelson, 19, has been jailed for two months after pleadingguilty to causing criminal damage.
As we've been reporting today, several suspects have appeared incourt, with over 100 people charged and more than 400 arrested in the UK.
Postpublished at 18:25
18:25
Disorder erupted in various towns and cities across the UK after three young girls were killed in Southport last Monday, as false claims on social media said someone who had arrived in the UK illegally was to blame.
The timeline above shows how the unrest spread in England and parts of Northern Ireland.
Almost 6,000 public order officers mobilised to respond to disorder - police sourcespublished at 18:06
18:06
Police sources say nearly 6,000 public order officers are mobilised to respond to any disorder in the coming days.
There are at least 30 potential gatherings planned for Wednesday that police are aware of, but they believe the situation is "manageable".
Police hope to be "through the worst" of the disorder, but are ready to respond if the situation escalates.
Nurse says she wants to leave Northern Ireland after disorderpublished at 17:57
17:57
Rebekah Wilson
BBC News NI
A nurse has said she will leave Northern Ireland when her contract is finishedbecause of recent riots and disorder.
The staff nurse, who is from India but lives in Belfast, told BBC News NI shewas “scared” and “families are really frightened”.
“I’m frightened to come to the hospital for work. We can’t go out shopping,it's scary to go out with children. It’s really terrifying.”
The nurse, who has been here for two-and-a-half years, said she chose NorthernIreland because there were jobs available, but says she will not stay anylonger than she has to.
"At this point I am really rethinking about living in Northern Ireland;when my contract is finished, I will go back to my country."
Speaking about the attacks, she said she doesn’t understand why they arehappening.
“I don’t know exactly what their motive is. In my point of view, I treat everyoneequally, and I don’t know why they aren’t treating us equally," she said.
"Maybe I’ve just helped your grandfather, and we are doing our job, and Iwonder why this is happening—why we are targeted.”
Met Police vow to use 'every tactic and tool' to tackle disorder in Londonpublished at 17:33
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The Metropolitan Police has vowed to use "every power, tactic and tool" to protect London against "one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade".
In a statement, Andy Valentine, in charge of the policing operation, condemned "racist, thuggish and criminal behaviour across the country".
"We arrested more than 100 people in central London disorder last week and we will not hesitate to arrest hundreds more if they take to the streets intent on fuelling violence," he says.
See Also
New rioting across UK cities as arrests multiply
Valentine adds that parts of the capital will see more police officers in their local area.
Elon Musk's war of words with Keir Starmerpublished at 17:06
17:06
Graham Fraser
Technology reporter
Elon Musk’s war of words with KeirStarmer has continued this afternoon.
In a series of posts aimed at theprime minister, the owner of X asked “why aren’t all communities beingprotected in Britain?”.
He posted it over a video of theClumsy Swan pub in Birmingham, a scene of disorder in the city on Mondayevening.
Musk also tweeted #TwoTierKeir – ahashtag that has been used in recent days to criticise the prime minister overapparent ‘two-tier policing’.
As my colleague Mark Easton points out, the phrase refers to often unevidenced claims that senior police officersare more lenient towards ethnic minorities when they protest. This view ispromoted by far-right activists on social media.
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander saidthe accusation of two-tier policing was a "baseless assertion" thatdoes a “disservice to police men and women who go out to do their jobs anduphold the rule of law”.
The prime minister became embroiled in a war of words with Musk, after the tech billionaire suggested that “civil waris inevitable” following the riots in England and Northern Ireland.
Musk - the owner of X, formerlyTwitter - is known for his online spats, including rows with the boss of WhatsApp and another with a sacked former employee.
PM to hold emergency Cobra meetingpublished at 16:43
16:43
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to chair another emergencyCobra meeting this evening on the unrest in parts of the UK.
Ministers and police chiefs are expected to attend.
'We need to stay united and strong'published at 16:26
16:26
Pria Rai
Newsbeat presenter
Image source, Fatima
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat earlier, Fatima says that the Muslimcommunity has been experiencing "Islamophobic attacks for years".
"You might see us as different, but we aren’t thatdifferent," she says.
She says it’s pretty clear that many around the country are feelingunsafe, but emphasises it is important for people to "stay united andstrong.”
"If you react, it’s what people who are stirring want. Theywant people to be angry and divided," Fatima says.
"We live in a country where we live peacefully. We are a civilisedsociety, and it’s time to educate each other.
"If you feel people are looking at you differently, smileback at them and ask them how they’re doing."
Here's what's been happeningpublished at 16:04
16:04
- England and Wales' director of public prosecutions says he's willing to consider charging some of those joining the unrest with terrorism offences – and he's aware of "at least one instance where that is happening"
- A man in his 50s has been taken to hospital following a serious assault during unrest in Belfast last night, in what police are treating as a racially motivated hate crime
- Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says those turning up to protests with the intent to cause disorder will "face the full force of the law"
- Meanwhile, a 28-year-old Leeds man became the first person to face prosecution for posting allegedly criminal messages linked to the recent spate of violence. He's been charged with posting content online intending to stir up racial hatred
- Suspects are continuing to appear in court, with 100 charged and more than 400 arrested. Hundreds of extra prison spaces are going to be made available to deal with the influx
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet the government would take "all necessary action" to bring the disorder to an end
Stay with us for more.
Location of Nottingham protest is elderly person's home, police saypublished at 15:42
15:42
Nottinghamshire Police have urged groups planning to attend a protest this week not to after it was found the location advertised online is the address of an elderly person.
The force says the address has "no links whatsoever to any immigration business".
"Officers have visited the address and it is home to an elderly person with vulnerabilities," the statement adds.
Police advised those planning to attend "any protest in this location refrain from doing so".
Watch: 'Pub attack isn't a reflection of us'published at 15:14
15:14
As we reported a little earlier, community activists visited a Birmingham pub which was attacked last night to apologise for what happened and to offer to pay for damages.
Watch that moment below:
Rioters 'will face full force of the law', justice secretary warnspublished at 15:00
15:00
Shabana Mahmood says people who turn up to protests and are intent on causing disorder will "face the full force of the law".
"It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re protesting – if you turn up in a mask, with a weapon, intent on causing disorder, you will face the full force of the law," the justice secretary writes in a post on X.
She thanks those working with police and community organisation, saying they are "the best of us".
All Southport victims treated at Alder Hey hospital dischargedpublished at 14:39
14:39
All children injured in the knife attack in Southport who were treated at Alder Hey hospital have been discharged, the hospital says.
Three children were killed in the stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last Monday. Eight children and two adults were seriously injured.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, which treated some of the casualties, thanked those involved "in responding to the incident or caring for anyone affected by it, especially our colleagues in the NHS, Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service".
"We also want to say thank you to all who sent well wishes to Alder Hey and to the families affected. Our heartfelt sympathies remain with all those impacted by last week’s tragic events," the Trust adds.
It was initially thought all children injured in the attack had been discharged, but Merseyside Police have since said one child was still under hospital care at a different site. We have updated this post to reflect this.
Muslim Council of Britain: 'Communities feel terrorised'published at 14:27
14:27
Rachel Flynn
Live reporter
Image source, Reuters
Muslim communities in the UK feel "terrorised", the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) says, as it called for calm following a week of disorder unfolding in several UK cities.
Zara Mohammed, the organisation's secretary-general, says her phone has been "jammed with calls" from people scared to leave the house and from faith leaders unsure whether they should open mosques.
She tells me a police investigation after the Sunderland riots on Friday revealed a plot to commit arson on a mosque.
"Muslim communities say they are feeling terrorised. They really are targets," Mohammed says.
"But what has been really heartening is the pushback from communities who have cleaned up the mess, come together and said: you're not welcome here."
The MCB is not advising mosques to close, but to be vigilant. Speak to police, review security measures, and carry out a risk assessment, Mohammed advises.
'When we blame the most vulnerable in society, what else do you expect?'published at 14:09
14:09
Pria Rai
Newsbeat presenter
Another person that BBC Asian Network has spoken to today, Raj, says the recent disorder has left "a lot of fear" in the community.
There are "mixed emotions," he goes on, saying "a lot of people are angry and want to do something about it".
The 27-year-old, from Middlesbrough, is from a Hindu community and says he’s not surprised at the violence because things have been "getting whipped up for so long".
"When we blame our community, refugees and migrants – often the most vulnerable in society – for our problems, what else can we expect?"
Birmingham pub condemns 'mindless thugs' and thanks Muslim community for supportpublished at 13:58
13:58
Image source, PA Media
A pub in Birmingham has criticised the "mindless thugs" who attacked its premises last night and said "we are proud of our multicultural city".
A group of men in balaclavas were caught on video causing damage to The Clumsy Swan on Monday night, when hundreds gathered at a demonstration in the city.
Following reports that the attackers were Muslim, members of the Sheldon mosque visited the pub and apologised for what happened. One elder offered to pay its damages, an online video shows.
The pub wrote on Facebook: "We would like to thank you all for your well wishes and a big thank you to those at Sheldon mosque who have reached out to us with apologies from their community and offer to pay for damages.
"Hopefully we will have no more trouble on the streets of Birmingham. We are proud of our multicultural city and let's keep it that way."
'This is not protest – it's violent disorder', says Starmerpublished at 13:44
13:44
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
The prime minister has told cabinet "99.9% of people across the country want their streets to be safe", as he pledged "all necessary action" to bring disorder to an end.
Keir Starmer condemned the violence, telling ministers: "It is violent disorder and needs to be treated as such, as criminal activity."
He said: "When I went to Southport I spoke to police who described what it was like to attend the mass stabbing of little girls and then to be back on duty the next day in riot gear, having bricks thrown at them.
"This is something no one would have ever wanted to see and we need to be calling it out for what it is. It is not protest. It is violent disorder and needs to be treated as such, as criminal activity.
"99.9% of people across the country want their streets to be safe and to feel safe in their communities, and we will take all necessary action to bring the disorder to an end."
Peter Kyle, the technology minister, told cabinet that social media companies had a responsibility to work with the government to prevent the spread of disinformation and incitement.
His comments came after he met with social media companies yesterday.
Paramilitary element to recent Belfast violence - policepublished at 13:43
13:43
Brendan Hughes
Reporting from Belfast
A senior police officer says she has "nodoubt" that there is a "paramilitary element" involved inorchestrating recent violence and disorder on the streets of Belfast.
Temporary Assistant ChiefConstable Melanie Jones says police are keeping an "open mind" on theinvolvement of other elements.
In response to criticism of the police response from thoseaffected, she said that "we always wish wecould have done more".
Speaking at a news conference in PSNI headquarters in Belfast, she said there was "clearlyyounger element" to Monday night's disorder.
Image source, PA Media
'We would consider bringing terrorism offences' - top prosecutorpublished at 13:36
13:36
Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent
Suspects charged so far have faced allegations including violent disorder, which can lead to five years in jail.
Some other suspects who have been arrested are being assessed for the more serious charge of rioting, that can lead to ten years.
Those charging decisions will take a longer, the Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson tells me, because of the nature of the crime and the evidence needed.
"There are sentencing guidelines which indicate that many people who have been caught up in this disorder will face immediate imprisonment. There should be no doubt about that. They are going to prison.
"We are willing to look at terrorism offences. I'm aware of at least one instance where that is happening.
"Where you have organised groups planning activity for the purposes of advancing [an] ideology... planning really, really serious disruption then yes, we will consider terrorism offences."
Two arrested after Snapchat postpublished at 13:15
13:15
Two people have been arrested in Chester following a Snapchat post that allegedly encouraged people to attend a protest at a hotel.
Cheshire Police says the post contained "misleading information stating that the hotel was home to a number of asylum seekers".
It adds that no disorder occurred as a result.
Two people - a 32-year-old man and 34-year-old woman from Chester - were arrested on Monday on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause fear and violence.
They have been released on conditional bail while further enquiries take place.