Rioting continued to escalate in towns and cities across England on Sunday – with police condemning a “staggering” level of violence.
Downing Street is expected to hold a COBRA emergency response meeting on Monday after “thugs” tried to storm hotels housing asylum seekers on the sixth day of disorder.
The meeting is due to involve relevant ministers and police officials, who will discuss the response in the coming days to ensure there is no repeat of the violent scenes.
More than 140 people have been arrested so far across the country. In Middlesbrough alone, officers arrested 43 people.
Sky’s north of England producer Hope Yeomans reported from the town – capturing clashes between police and rioters live on air – and said it was different to the disorder elsewhere in the country.
That was because there were two groups targeting one another – the far-right rioters who started the day’s disorder, and the Asian community defending their homes and livelihoods from vandalism and violence.
More than 300 people earlier marched in the town carrying a banner saying: “Tom Jones is Welsh, Axel Rudakubana [the Southport stabbings suspect] isn’t” while chanting “we want our country back” as they made their way through the town centre.
Cars were set alight and windows smashed. Burning wheelie bins were also hurled at officers, leaving the road strewn with smoking rubbish.
David Felton, assistant chief constable of Cleveland Police, said on Sunday night: “The level of violence we have seen today is staggering.
“We know the shocking scenes across Middlesbrough today will have caused alarm amongst communities.
“I want to reassure the people of Teesside that we will continue to identify those involved in these acts of violence and arrest them and put them before the courts.”
Shortly before 1.30am, Cleveland Police said the disorder in Middlesbrough had ended.
The force added: “A policing presence will remain in the town throughout the night and into tomorrow and the coming days.
“The total number of arrests made so far in connection with the incidents today is 43. A full investigation is now under way.”
The lawlessness added to a sense of emergency from the government, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer telling rioters they would regret their “thuggery” in a news conference on Sunday.
He said: “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.
“This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.”
The Home Office has also announced that mosques will be offered greater protection with new “emergency security” that can be rapidly deployed to respond to violent disorder.
Two hotels attacked in Rotherham and Tamworth
Elsewhere, chairs were hurled at police and windows were smashed as masked anti-immigration rioters broke into a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Objects including rocks and long pieces of wood were thrown at the Holiday Inn Express and at police officers who lined up in front of the building as they tried to protect it.
At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was left unconscious. One injured officer in riot gear was carried away by colleagues.
Hotel employees and residents were “terrified”, but no injuries to them were reported.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield, of South Yorkshire Police, said on Sunday: “Today in Rotherham we have seen our officers attacked and at least 10 injured, significant damage caused and a fire set outside a hotel full of terrified residents and staff.
“The mindless actions of those today have achieved nothing other than sheer destruction and leaving members of the public and the wider community in fear.”
Later, a large group of individuals threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires and targeted police in an area around another Holiday Inn in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
The hotel also houses asylum seekers.
Members of the public were told to avoid the area and one officer was injured, suffering a suspected broken arm.
Windows of the hotel were smashed, with three petrol bombs used to start fires.
Staffordshire Police said the disorder later ended with the crowd dispersed from outside the Holiday Inn. They appealed for information to help identify people who attacked the hotel and police officers.
A force statement said: “Police officers were faced with being attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks and damage was caused to the hotel by protesters, with the lives of residents inside put at risk. Fortunately, no one inside was injured.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison added: “The senseless violence and acts of despicable thuggery in Tamworth tonight are completely inexcusable. The local community do not deserve to be subject to this behaviour, and neither do the brave officers putting themselves in harm’s way to keep everyone safe.” (Sky News)
