PM Starmer Calls Emergency Meeting with Police Chiefs
- PM Keir Starmer supports police amid violent far-right protests.
- Far-right activists stoke anger following Southport stabbing spree.
- Protests in London, Hartlepool, and Manchester lead to multiple arrests.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has summoned police leaders to an emergency meeting after a second night of violent far-right protests in response to a stabbing spree in Southport earlier this week. The meeting, held at Downing Street, was to assure police of the government’s full support amid increasing incidents of extreme violence and public disorder.
Starmer emphasized the protection of peaceful protest rights but warned that those exploiting this right to incite hatred and violence would face strict legal consequences. The country has been in turmoil since Monday’s stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls—Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar—and injuries to eight other children and two adults.
The 17-year-old suspect, Axel Rudakubana, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, facing multiple charges of murder and attempted murder. Despite his age, the court allowed the release of his identity due to his upcoming 18th birthday.
Far-right activists have used the incident to spread misinformation, inciting anger against immigrants and Muslims. This led to protests in London, Hartlepool, and Manchester, with significant violence and arrests. In London, protestors gathered outside Starmer’s residence, leading to over 100 arrests. Hartlepool saw police cars set ablaze and eight arrests made. Manchester experienced a smaller disturbance.
The previous night’s violence in Southport resulted in 53 police officers injured, bricks thrown at a mosque, and vehicles set on fire following a peaceful vigil for the stabbing victims. Police have attributed the unrest to the far-right English Defence League, known for its Islamophobic stance and links to football hooliganism.
