Britain has mobilised 1,000 extra specialised police officers in case of racist rioting over the weekend. The government said that it is planning to tighten regulations around social media companies following unrest driven by online misinformation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said extra police numbers and swift justice had deterred people he referred to as “far-right thugs” since Wednesday.
Authorities On High Alert
He further said that the authorities in Britain would remain on high alert for further trouble. Starmer told reporters, “We have to stay on high alert going into this weekend.”
Racist attacks and disorder have mostly targeted Muslims and migrants.
Attacks On Hotels And Mosques
Hotels housing asylum-seekers have suffered damage. Windows in these hotels were smashed and mosques were pelted with rocks.
Strict Action
Starmer said that those involved in the riots will undergo trial. “That is a very important part of the message to anybody who is thinking about getting involved in further disorder,” he said.
Till now, over 480 people have been arrested for attacks on Muslim, immigration and other sites besides police and passers-by.
The Justice Ministry said that more than 150 of those arrested have already appeared in court. Dozens are in jail and more will be sentenced on Friday.
Riots broke out after online posts wrongly identified the suspected killer of three young girls in a knife attack in England, as an Islamist migrant.
Special Measures
Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas–Symonds told Sky News about special measures including mobilization of 1,000 extra specialised police officers.
He also said the government would revisit the framework of the country’s Online Safety Act.
Predicted widespread far-right riots failed to materialise on Wednesday, when thousands of counter-protesters took the streets across the country.
It is not clear how many far-right gatherings are planned or if they will go ahead.
There are around 40 counter-protests due on Saturday, according to the Stand Up to Racism group.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
