Thousands of police on standby as UK riots spread

British police are steeling themselves for more than 100 demonstrations as nightly riots, during which mosques and migrant targets have been attacked, continue.

Anti-racism counter protesters assemble ahead of a potential anti-immigration protest in Walthamstow, United Kingdom. Picture: Getty Images.

Thousands of riot police have been put on standby in the UK as violent far-right protests spread across the country.

Nightly riots, during which mosques and migrant targets have been attacked, have erupted in English towns and cities since three children were murdered on July 29.

Police were steeling themselves for more than 100 demonstrations linked to the disorder on Wednesday night local time, including possible counter-protests by anti-fascist activists. Courts have ordered jail terms for offenders as authorities seek to head off new troubles.

Immigration lawyers and buildings hosting asylum seekers are primary targets for far-right agitators, according to posts on messaging app Telegram leaked to the British media.

The government has said 6,000 specialist police are on standby to deal with the disorder, which has seen almost 430 people arrested and at least 120 charged, according to latest police figures.

The violence broke out after girls aged nine, seven and six were killed and five more children critically injured during a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England.

False rumours initially spread on social media saying the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. The suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales. UK media reported that his parents are from Rwanda.

Despite the police statement, initial disturbances in Southport centred around a mosque, and widespread violence has rocked England and Northern Ireland since.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned anyone involved will face “the full force of the law”, including those inciting violence online.

Starmer, a former chief state prosecutor, has pledged “substantive sentencing before the end of this week” for the rioters.

Scores of accused, including teenagers, have already appeared before judges. – ‘Tip of the iceberg’ – On Wednesday, a man was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker in Southport.

Two other men received sentences of 20 months and 30 months for participating in violence in Liverpool on Saturday.

“The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest,” said prosecutor Jonathan Egan.

Britain’s worst unrest since the 2011 London riots, has led a number of countries to warn citizens about travelling in the UK.

The rioting has seen demonstrators throw bricks and flares at police officers, burn cars and attack mosques and at least two hotels that have been used for asylum seekers.

The government, only one month old, has vowed to take a tough line on the unrest and has freed up an extra 500 prison places.

Police have blamed the disorder on figures associated with the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL), a far-right Islamophobic organisation founded 15 years ago, whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism.

EDL founder Tommy Robinson has been accused by authorities of stoking tensions, and police in Cyprus, where he was reported to be on holiday, said Wednesday they were ready to assist UK police if needed.

However, Robinson later wrote on the X social media platform: “Lucky I’m not in Cyprus then”.

The rallies have been advertised on far-right social media channels under the banner “Enough is enough”.

UK politicians have accused social media sites of fuelling the violence. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has angered the government with a series of provocative tweets, including that a British “civil war is inevitable”.

AFP