Violent unrest continued across parts of the United Kingdom on Monday, with police facing attacks in Belfast, Darlington, and Plymouth.
In Plymouth, six people were arrested and several officers sustained minor injuries, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.
In South Belfast, riot officers encountered stones and petrol bombs near a supermarket set on fire over the weekend. Earlier, a vigil was held for victims of a mass stabbing in Southport, which sparked the unrest. Nearly 400 arrests have been made since the riots began.
Hundreds attended the peaceful memorial for Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, with children blowing bubbles and others leaving flowers and heart-shaped balloons. Merseyside Police reported that one child involved in the incident remains hospitalized, while other patients have been discharged.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten attempted murders, and possession of a curved kitchen knife. Police believe the riots were fueled by false rumors about the suspect’s background.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence as “far-right thuggery” and vowed to “ramp up” law enforcement efforts. “We will stop this disorder and ensure swift criminal sanctions,” he emphasized.
Despite calls for calm, violence spread to Plymouth, where specialist officers were deployed to manage a far-right demonstration and a counter-protest. A police van was damaged, and several officers were injured. Supt Russ Dawe assured the community of a strong police presence and a robust response to public disorder.
In South Belfast, PSNI officers faced attacks in Sandy Row following an anti-immigration protest that damaged businesses. Birmingham saw disturbances after false reports of a far-right march led to anti-EDL chants and attacks on vehicles and a pub.
Assistant Chief Constable Richie Allen described the events as “sporadic pockets of violent disorder.” Nationally, 378 arrests have been made since the riots began, with courts dealing with offenders.
The Law Society demanded proper support for courts. After an emergency Cobra meeting, Sir Keir announced a “standing army” of specialist officers. The government is also working with social media companies to address misinformation.
Downing Street criticized X owner Elon Musk for claiming a “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, suggesting online misinformation might be amplified by foreign state actors. Former head of counter-terrorism at the Metropolitan Police, Neil Basu, indicated some of the rioting had “crossed the line into terrorism.”
Neil Basu attributed the violence to “lies spread through social media.”