Police braced for more riots – calls for violence to be treated as terrorism

Far-right disorder in cities in England and Northern Ireland is continuing with police forces braced for 30 more demonstrations on Wednesday evening.

Police say that more than 400 arrests have been made over the last week, with over 100 people charged. There have also been suggestions, including from former police chief Neil Basu, that some of those at the forefront of the violence should be prosecuted under counter-terrorism laws.

Those charged so far have faced allegations including violent disorder, which carry a sentence of five years in jail. But, this afternoon, Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions in England and Wales said he is “willing” to look at charging some rioters with terrorism offences. “I’m aware of at least one instance where that is happening,” he told the BBC.

“There are sentencing guidelines which indicate that many people who have been caught up in this disorder will face immediate imprisonment. There should be no doubt about that. They are going to prison,” Parkinson added. 

Jordan Parlour, 28, from Seacroft in Leeds, has been charged today with posting content online intending to stir up racial hatred, in relation to this past week’s violent disorder. He is the first to face criminal prosecution for an online crime in relation to the current riots. This is significant given that much of the violence was originally stirred up by misinformation on social media.

In Belfast, a man in his 50s is in a serious condition in hospital after he was injured last night in what the police are treating as a racially motivated attack by multiple rioters. Witnesses reported seeing far-right attackers stamp on his head, according to police. Among the violence in Belfast, a boy as young as 15 was arrested for riotous behaviour and remains in police custody.

In Birmingham, amid rumours of a far-right demonstration, a large group of Muslim men with some wearing masks and hoods gathered on Monday evening to “stand guard” at a mosque. They formed a protective ring around a Mcdonald’s near the mosque in Bordesley Green. Within the crowd, a man was seen wielding what looked to be a large bat. 

A Sky News broadcast was ended after threats made to reporter Becky Johnson. The TV crew was followed by a man in a balaclava holding a knife. The man allegedly stabbed the tyre of the Sky broadcast van but didn’t damage it, so the crew was able to drive away.

In another incident in Birmingham, several vehicles and a pub were attacked by Muslim youths who had been part of the demonstration. Footage showed a lone white man being attacked by a gang at the Clumsy Swan pub.

Members of the Sheldon Mosque later visited the pub following these reports and apologised, also offering to pay for any damages.

Unrest elsewhere continued last night including in Plymouth, where far-right rioters threw fireworks at counter-demonstrators, and three police officers were injured. Several arrests have been made already.There was also “sporadic” disorder in Darlington, with one 18-year-old arrested on numerous charges.

On a more upbeat note, the final child to remain in hospital following the Southport stabbing last week, which triggered the violent riots, has been discharged today.  

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