UK Rotherham riots live: Far-right torch Holiday Inn migrant hotel as Starmer warns thugs will regret violence

About 300 people gathered in front of a mosque in Waterloo Road in Middlesbrough to guard it while police blocked off nearby streets.

One resident told the PA news agency: “We’re going to be paying for this, and for what?

“This has got nothing to do with three little girls that have lost their lives. They’ve used it to cause utter mayhem on our streets.”

A person was seen being stretchered into an ambulance after an incident at the Swatters Carr pub.

Stand Up to Racism has launched a fundraiser to support efforts against far-right riots across the UK.

The GoFundMe will be used to help the activist group “organise more protests, hold more events, and produce more materials to fight racism and foster unity.”

The fundraiser reads: “In the last week we have seen far right riots take place across Britain. These have included racist attacks, violence and Islamophobia. These alarming incidents highlight the urgent need for action against hate and division.”

Humza Yousaf has called for the army to be called in to stop “thugs” causing disorder on the streets.

“It doesn’t look like, to me, the police have a handle on the situation,” the former first minister of Scotland said.

“The police have not been able to protect those that are in the Holiday Inn,” he added.

“The army can help to get control where the police are unable.”

Around 400 members of the far-right and anti-fascist are facing off in Weymouth, BBC reports.

The broadcaster said the two groups had gathered on the seafront and are chanting at each other as officers moved people off the beach.

They added that people opposing sides are gradually getting closer to each other.

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The acts of violence seen across the country this weekend have involved criminality of the most serious kind. I want there to be no doubt about our determination to ensure that those involved will face severe consequences.

“This weekend, we deployed extra lawyers and will continue to work around the clock in the coming days to make sure that law and order is maintained, and justice is served.

“I have directed prosecutors to make immediate charging decisions where key evidence is in place and they are doing so.

“I am determined that we will act swiftly and robustly, giving the courts maximum ability to pass sentences that reflect what has occurred.”

A second man has been charged with committing violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday. Officers witnessed a group throwing stones, bricks and missiles at officers in the Paradise Street area.A row of officers moved to take one of the suspects to the ground and detain him. Jimmy Bailey, 45 years, of Station Avenue, Ellesmere Port has been charged with violent disorder. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court at 9.45am on Monday 5 August.

There have been 147 arrests across the country since Saturday night, BJ Harrington of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said.

He added that more is expected in the coming days as he blamed disinformation for driving the “appalling violence”.

He also had a warning for those involved in the unrest:

He added: “Intelligence teams, detectives and neighbourhood officers are working round the clock to identify and apprehend those involved and make no mistake, if you haven’t had a knock on the door yet, your time will come.”

The sight of demonstrators attacking a hotel in the belief it is housing migrants is “almost incomprehensible”, the managing director of the Hope not Hate advocacy group has said.

Nick Lowles said he was “lost for words” to describe the scenes at a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham.

“The fact that hundreds of people have targeted a hotel that is housing migrants, it is almost incomprehensible,” he told Sky News.

“They knew that people were in that hotel and they consciously tried to set fire to it.

“Communities are so scared, we have to rebuild.”

Mr Lowles said agitators have been over-simplifying stories to whip up hate.

Cleveland Police said officers have made nine arrests so far relating to violent disorder offences in Middlesbrough.

The force said the main areas affected are Parliament Road, Waterloo Road, and the area around the university.

Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: “We are urging members of the public to stay away from Middlesbrough while officers respond to violent disorder in the town.

“We have a high policing presence responding to the disorder, and the priority remains to protect people and communities.

“We will continue to make arrests and deal robustly with anyone shown to be intent on committing violence and causing harm.”

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have said those involved in violence on the streets of Belfast should be “quickly brought before the courts”.

In a joint statement, Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly said: “Whilst people are entitled to peaceful protest, there is no justification for racism or the violence and intimidation that occurred on Saturday.

“Those involved should be quickly brought before the courts and we appeal to anyone with information to provide that information to the PSNI.

“We reiterate our joint commitment to a shared, peaceful and inclusive society.”