British PM calls for swift criminal sanctions against far-right rioters

British prime minister Keir Starmer will focus on ending escalating disorder in towns and cities across the country through "swift" criminal sanctions against rioters, he said after an emergency meeting on Monday morning.

Far-right violence in the UK escalated on Sunday night with attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. Monday's crisis meeting brought together ministers and police representatives at the prime minister's official residence in London.

The unrest was sparked by the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, in the northwest of England, last week. False claims were spread online that the person responsible was a Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

Speaking on British television, Starmer said his focus was on "making sure that we stop this disorder, that the criminal sanctions are swift and be seen to be followed".

A "standing army" of specialist police officers would be set up to deal with rioting and disorder, he added. "This is not protest," said Starmer, "it is violence."

According to the British media, more than 400 people have been arrested in the past week in connection with riots in Southport, Liverpool, Belfast and Bristol. Several were remanded in custody on Monday morning after appearing before a judge.

The 17-year-old suspect was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff. He has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder and will appear in court in October.

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