The United Kingdom remains on high alert for potential riots, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning authorities to stay vigilant. This comes as courts have issued the first jail sentences for online incitement related to recent disorder. Despite consecutive nights of relative calm in England, disturbances continue in Northern Ireland, where police have blamed pro-UK loyalist paramilitaries for fuelling nightly violence in Belfast.
Over 1,000 anti-racism protesters gathered in Belfast on Friday, amidst a large police presence. Several dozen anti-immigration demonstrators also attended. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the importance of “swift justice” in deterring further disorder, citing recent court sentences as a deterrent.
In Leeds, a 28-year-old man was jailed for 20 months for publishing Facebook posts that met the criminal threshold for stirring racial hatred. Another individual, Tyler Kay, received a 38-month sentence for calling on social media for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.
Prime Minister Starmer stressed that social media executives and users must be “mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.” He added that the government would need to examine social media’s role in the disorder after the situation is brought under control.
Police in England have made nearly 600 arrests linked to the unrest since July 30, with around 150 charges filed. The disturbances, sparked by a July 29 knife attack, have seen mosques and migrant-related facilities attacked alongside police and other targets.
In Northern Ireland, 23 people have been arrested, and 15 charged, following the disturbances. Officers have been granted additional powers to stop and search suspected troublemakers and ask them to remove face coverings.
Britain’s monarch, King Charles III, praised the police and emergency services for their efforts in restoring peace. French President Emmanuel Macron offered his support to Prime Minister Starmer in a phone call, condemning the violence and disorder.
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