UK riots latest: More violence expected after Starmer says communities will be protected

Sadiq Khan, London’s first Muslim and first ethnic minority mayor, has urged people to ‘check in on your Black, Brown and minority friends, family, neighbours and colleagues’.

‘In many parts of the country, they don’t feel safe,’ he said on X last night.

‘Our communities are facing the threat of hatred – including violence – fuelled by insidious racism, prejudice, and Islamophobia. It’s the legacy of decades of dog whistles, including from some irresponsible politicians.’

Khan urged people to be ‘allies’ for those bearing the brunt of the violence, whether online or off. He also stressed that people of colour will always be ‘loved and wanted’ in the capital.

‘Stay strong, and look out for each other. London’s communities stand united – we will never let those who seek to divide us win,’ Khan added.

A man has admitted violent disorder and possession of cocaine and heroin, becoming the fourth person convicted for their involvement in the Sunderland riots,

Bradley Makin, 21, from the Springwell area, pleaded guilty yesterday morning.

He had travelled to the city centre last Friday and filmed himself offering encouragement to rioters during the large-scale unrest.

‘If you were involved in the violent scenes, it may well be your door that we turn up to next,’ said Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr.

Mankin will be sentenced on Friday.

A London borough where protests have been planned for this evening sought to reassure residents they will be safe.

Clyde Loakes, a councillor at Waltham Forest in east London, said yesterday evening that council officials are working tightly with police. More CCTV and extra police boots on the ground will be in place tonight.

‘We are also reaching out to local businesses and faith organisations who might be targeted by these suggested ‘protestors’ to provide extra support and advice,’ he said.

‘We want everyone to be safe. Residents may want to take their own precautions and consider avoiding the area.’

Waltham Forest includes the areas of Leyton, Walthamstow and Chingford.

Crying into hankies and rocking up to court with their mums – this is just how some of the nearly 100 people charged after riots rippled across the UK have acted in court.

Nearly 400 people have been arrested so far, with police forces announcing court date after court date this week.

At one point, dozens of defendants were crammed into a single court.

But who has been accused of taking part in the protests so far? You can read our list here.

Britain is bracing itself for another day of mayhem as extremist right-wing groups are set to descend on major towns and cities today.

Thirty-eight locations – from Aldershot and Wigan to London and Brighton – have been earmarked for anti-immigration protests today by far-right Telegram users.

Among them, threats against lawyers and immigration experts who help asylum seekers find sanctuary in the UK.

‘They won’t stop coming until you tell them…’ said one Telegram post on a racist right-wing group. ‘No more immigration.’

Nearly 6,000 public order officers have been mobilised, police sources told the BBC.

Good morning from the Metro news team.

For more than a week, England and Northern Ireland have been gripped by violent unrest as far-right agitators rampage through the streets of towns and cities.

The violence has been driven by online disinformation and extremist right-wing groups intent on whipping up racism after a deadly stabbing at a children’s event in Southport, experts say.

Further riots and counter-protests have been planned for today and the rest of the week.

If you are just waking up, these are the latest developments you need to know about:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer says rioters will face hefty prison sentences with more than 400 in cuffs and 100 charged so far.
• And it’s already begun: James Nelson, 18, of Bolton, is thought to be the first person to be jailed for their part in the mayhem.
• As is Joe MacKenzie, a 28-year-old from Darlington, who sobbed into his hanky as he was refused bail for his alleged role in the Middlesbrough riots.
• Some 30 gatherings are expected to take place today – including in London – with some 6,000 officers at the ready, according to police sources.
• As mourners gathered in Merseyside yesterday to remember Alice da Silva Aguiar, one of three young girls killed in the Southport stabbing, all the children injured have now been discharged from hospital.

Two more people have been charged after rioting in Southport and Liverpool.

Philip Prescot, 38, of Sefton Street, Southport, has been charged with violent disorder in connection with disorder in Southport last Tuesday.

David Frank Hill, 38, of Bianca Street, Bootle, has been charged with violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool magistrates court tomorrow morning.

Durham Constabulary say they gave out 37 dispersal orders to people arriving in the city centre this evening.

The order was put in place after plans for disorder within the city were circulated.

There was a heightened police presence in Durham this evening, and in total 37 people aged between 13 and 38 were told to leave the city.

A 15-year-old boy, from Crook, was arrested for a public order offence.

The order will stay in place until midday on Wednesday.

A Section 34 dispersal order has been put in place for the next two days to try and combat potential disorder ahead of potential further demonstrations.

The order gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents. 

Officers can seize items used ‘in the commission of anti-social behaviour’, and if someone told to leave the area returns, they can be arrested.

Inspector Leigh Price said: ‘We have introduced this order to prevent potential disorder following similar incidents in Merseyside and other parts of the country this week.

‘Patrols have been increased in the area to deal with any issues, and this dispersal zone gives officers on the ground extra powers to approach people they believe could be there to commit anti-social behaviour or disorder.

‘This order is aimed at ensuring residents and businesses are not subjected to any such behaviour, and I ask that people continue reporting any concerns and we will take action. 

‘If you witness any anti-social behaviour or criminal behaviour, or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will take action.’

A full list of streets covered by the dispersal order is available on the Merseyside Police website.

Speaking to reporters inside Downing Street on Tuesday evening, Sir Keir said: “‘hose involved will feel the full force of the law… over 400 people now have been arrested, 100 have been charged – some in relation to online activity – and a number of them are already in court.

‘I’m now expecting substantive sentencing before the end of this week.

‘That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week.

‘Within a week, the criminal justice system really has shown the robust and swift response that is very important to sending a message in circumstances like this.’

When asked about the Muslim and Asian communities, amongst others, who have concerns about the upcoming few days with further protests planned, he said: ‘They will be safe. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place.

‘Obviously, it’s a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need, that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.

‘But the message has to go to those that are involving themselves in this disorder, which is “you’re wrong, you shouldn’t be doing it, you will feel the full force of the law”, as I hope we’re demonstrating with these swift prosecutions.’

The Health Secretary has said that anyone who is racist to NHS staff in health settings ‘can and should’ be turned away.

Wes Streeting has condemned ‘mindless thuggery’ during rioting across Britain since last week.

He said those who had attacked Filipino nurses in Sunderland had ‘brought enormous shame on our country’.

The two nurses were attacked as they headed to work to provide emergency cover during the rioting in Sunderland on Friday evening.

Streeting said the NHS has a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to racism, adding: ‘The government will not tolerate the continuation of this mindless thuggery by far-right agitators in our country.

‘I was appalled by reports of violence directed towards Filipino nurses in Sunderland – their attackers bring shame on our flag and shame on our country.

‘I will not tolerate, under any circumstances, NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse.

‘We have a zero tolerance policy in the NHS and we’ll take a zero tolerance approach in social care too.

‘I think the overwhelming majority of people in our country are utterly disgusted and appalled by the racism and violence on display.

‘I think we are lucky to have people in our NHS and social care sectors who come from around the world to provide great, compassionate care.

‘I am proud that we have those people in Britain. I think the vast majority of Brits are too.

‘And those people that have hijacked our flag for their mindless, racist thuggery – they have no idea about this country’s history or heritage, and they have brought enormous shame on our country by attacking NHS staff in this way.’

Immigration advice staff and solicitors are ‘fearful’ about going to work amid ‘one of the worst’ periods of violent disorder of the last decade.

Police forces across Britain are gearing up for a potentially busy night of further rioting on Wednesday.

Concern for the safety of immigration law specialists in particular has been sparked after a list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies across the country were shared in chat groups as targets.

Staff at some of those businesses said they have been advised to work from home on Wednesday, and that police and fire officers had visited their premises to check security arrangements including CCTV cameras and smoke alarms.

An office manager at an immigration advisory service said he felt ‘very very scared and very upset’ regarding the threats his workplace has received.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘Around this area, all of the shops that are next to us – they’re very scared as well.

‘Offices and restaurants – they’re very scared and upset.’

Another solicitor, whose family firm practises immigration law, said they will be working from home for the foreseeable future as a result of threats made to their business, but are worried about the potential impact this could have on their clients.

He said: ‘For us, we’re mostly concerned about our clients because our clients come from war-torn countries – if we’re not in the office, we can’t provide enough service they need.

‘There’s only so much we can do from home – most of our clients are quite vulnerable.

‘If there is any violence or destruction, all the businesses in the area are family-run businesses – so if they target us, everyone gets affected.’

A staff member at an immigration services provider said they have been entering and leaving the office at the same time as their colleague so that neither of them are alone in the building, but will be working from home on Wednesday.

Speaking about the threats she has seen made to her workplace online, she said: ‘You don’t really know what can happen – you get a bit paranoid then like anytime someone comes or someone buzzes like “oh my god, is something going to happen?”‘

When asked how she felt about returning to the office eventually, she said: ‘At the moment, we’re still in this kind of apprehensive, kind of fearful situation where you’re not really sure what to do.’

Companies also said that they have removed their addresses from their website as a precaution against potential targeted violence.

An immigration solicitor, whose workplace was among those circulated online as a target, said despite removing one of the office addresses from their website, staff at other locations remained concerned.

He said: ‘Our staff are scared in other addresses as well because all our addresses are on our website, we can’t just take the full address out because clients are travelling to us – and of course, it’s affecting us financially, emotionally.’

Mark Goldring, director of Asylum Welcome in Oxford – an organisation that provides advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees, is ‘very concerned’ about recent events and threats made to the charity.

He said: ‘Obviously we were very concerned but we were even more concerned about the events of last week and the weekend, both in Southport but also in asylum hotels and cities across England – so alarm levels were rising among our clients, volunteers and staff even before we knew of the specific targeting we learned of yesterday.’

Mr Goldring, who has run the charity for five years, said that although the organisation has seen threats to individual clients, it has not experienced ‘anything like this’ before.

He said that currently, the charity hopes to continue with its planned events later this week, providing violence does not escalate in the area, but that staff and volunteers have been told they should cancel activities or ‘step down’ if they feel threatened or uncomfortable in any way.

Mr Goldring said: ‘Our bigger concern is that what we’ve seen this week is smaller numbers of clients actually coming to events and activities, and we don’t think this is because of specific threats – this is because of the broader fear in the environment and watching the news coverage across the country.

‘Yesterday we had a football evening for young people, mostly young men and attendance fell off from 25 to half a dozen and we had a drop-in surgery, which happened yesterday – numbers were lowest that we’ve seen all year.

‘So I think there’s a climate of concern of “I don’t want to go somewhere obvious or public if I don’t need to for the time being”.

‘Obviously we will close well ahead of the possible protest tomorrow, many of our staff have refugee backgrounds themselves and so this will be shocking, traumatising, worrying for some.’

Several of the businesses listed as targets for anti-immigration protests said they have received an outpouring of support from local residents, businesses and members of the public across the country.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy has waded into Elon Musk’s clash with Sir Keir Starmer over the ongoing far-right riots, squaring up to the Tesla CEO over his ‘dangerous’ comments.

The newsreader called out the billionaire, who has been accused of ‘race baiting’ over his inflammatory online commentary, saying: ‘Do you want to do an interview about this?

‘You are causing a lot of waves here in Britain at a very dangerous time.

‘Anytime, anywhere. On @Channel4News and @X live.’

A woman who pushed a burning wheelie bin into a row of police officers before falling to the ground and being arrested has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Teesside Magistrates Court heard Stacy Vint, 34, and a man were seen pushing the bin, the contents of which were on fire, on Linthorpe Road during unrest in Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Prosecutor John Garside said the pair then shoved the bin at a police line before Vint fell over and was arrested.

She initially gave officers a false name, the court heard.

Vint was remanded in custody until her sentencing on August 28.

An 18-year-old has been jailed after taking part in a demonstration in Bolton on Sunday.

James Nelson, of Victoria Road in Horwich, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage.

He appeared at Manchester magistrates court today where he was sentenced to two months imprisonment.

Another man, also aged 18, received a community order for his role in the protest.

Liam Powell, of Hendon Court in Buckshaw Village, Chorley, was given a 12-month community order.

He pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine during the disorder.

The Metropolitan Police have vowed to protect London from ‘one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade’, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: ‘This is a national critical incident and we will do everything in our power to protect London and its communities.

‘We know about the events planned by hateful and divisive groups across the capital tomorrow night. They’ve made their intention to cause disruption and division very clear.

‘The scenes of racist, thuggish and criminal behaviour across the country have been deeply shocking. Members of the public and officers have been attacked, many have been injured.

‘We will not tolerate this on our streets. We will use every power, tactic and tool available to prevent further scenes of disorder.

‘We arrested more than 100 people in central London disorder last week and we will not hesitate to arrest hundreds more if they take to the streets intent on fuelling violence.’

Joe MacKenzie, a 28-year-old from Darlington who works for his dad’s kitchen fitting business, cried as he was told he would be refused bail for his alleged part in Sunday’s rioting in Middlesbrough.

MacKenzie is accused of being among around 20 men wearing balaclavas and face coverings who clashed with police. He’s accused of shouting ‘We are taking over, I f***ing hate you c***s’ at police while swigging from a can of lager. 

Chris Tame, prosecuting, told Teesside magistrates court: ‘The defendant was arrested on suspicion of throwing items, attacking police throughout the day and shouting expletives. He was seen drinking from a can of lager.’

In MacKenzie’s defence, Nick Woodhouse applied for bail, claiming he’d gone into the centre of Middesborough ‘out of curiosity’ and was trying to leave the city and return to his car when he was blocked by a police cordon.

‘He was told he would have to walk around two miles back to his vehicle, which would have been made difficult as he suffers from a club foot,’ Mr Woodhouse said.

Judge Helen Cousins refused the bail application and remanded him in custody.

Before he could be led away MacKenzie pleaded for help in getting ADHD medication in prison, telling the court: ‘I haven’t had any for two days since I have been in there.’

As he was led to the cells, sobbing, friends in the public gallery shouted: ‘Take it on the chin Joe, you’ll be OK.’

As they left the public gallery the same man yelled at court staff and journalists: ‘You’re a bunch of nonces and paedophiles, the lot of youse.’

A fourth person has today been convicted at court for being involved in the violent disorder in Sunderland.

Bradley Makin appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside today (Tuesday) and pleaded guilty to violent disorder, as well as possession of cocaine and heroin.

The 21-year-old was remanded in custody until he is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (August 9).

Makin becomes the fourth individual to be convicted for their role in last Friday’s appalling scenes, with Leanne Hodgson, 43, Josh Kellett, 29, and Andrew Smith, 41, all also pleading guilty to violent disorder in court yesterday.

A 23-year-old man has appeared in court accused of damaging property with a four-foot wooden pole during unrest in Middlesbrough.

Ashley Ferguson, 33, Somerset Street, Middlesbrough, is also alleged to have waved the pole towards police ‘in a threatening manner’.

Ferguson pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He was remanded in custody until August 27 when he will appear at a crown court.

The children sent to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after the Southport attack have now all been discharged.

Three children, six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, were killed in the attack last Monday.

Five others were left in a critical condition and another three were described as injured.

The hospital said: ‘We are really pleased to be able to share that all the children involved in last Monday’s awful incident in Southport who were under our care have now been safely discharged home from Alder Hey.

‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in responding to the incident or caring for anyone affected by it, especially our colleagues in the NHS, Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service.

‘We also want to say thank you to all who sent well wishes to Alder Hey and to the families affected.

‘Our heartfelt sympathies remain with all those impacted by last week’s tragic events.’