British Govt Calls Emergency ‘Cobra Meeting’ After Violent Unrest Hits Major Cities – News18

An emergency response meeting will be held at 10 Downing Street on Monday following a weekend of violent unrest across the UK, which has resulted in over 150 arrests.

The violence, which has been described as “far-right thuggery,” erupted in various towns, including Rotherham, Middlesbrough, and Bolton, amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment following the tragic stabbing of three young girls in Southport last week.

What’s The Cobra Meeting

The meeting, known as a Cobra meeting, will involve ministers, police, and intelligence officers to assess the situation and coordinate responses. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called the scenes “utterly appalling” and assured that police are backed to take strong action against the perpetrators. Enhanced protections for mosques will also be implemented, allowing for rapid security deployments to ensure safe worship.

Starmer’s Warning

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, particularly an attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, where demonstrators clashed with police, injuring at least ten officers. He said that those involved in the unrest would face “the full force of the law” and warned that they would “regret” their actions. He emphasized the need for safety, noting that Muslim communities and other minorities have been targeted during these protests.

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In the wake of the violence, police in Bolton enforced a Section 60AA order to manage the situation, requiring individuals to remove face coverings. The unrest has sparked discussions about potentially fast-tracking prosecutions, reminiscent of the government’s response to the 2011 riots, with courts possibly operating around the clock to expedite legal proceedings.

Riots first flared in Southport late Tuesday following Monday’s frenzied knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in the northwest coastal city, before spreading up and down England.  They were fuelled by false rumours on social media about the background of British-born 17-year-old suspect Axel Rudakubana, who is accused of killing a six, seven, and nine-year-old, and injuring another 10 people.

Agitators have targeted at least two mosques, and the UK interior ministry announced Sunday it was offering new emergency security to Islamic places of worship. The rallies have been advertised on far-right social media channels under the banner “Enough is enough”. Participants have waved English and British flags while chanting slogans like “Stop the boats” — a reference to irregular migrants crossing the Channel to Britain from France.

(With agency inputs)