UK prime minister Keir Starmer warned far-right protesters on Sunday they would "regret" participating in England's worst rioting in 13 years, as disturbances linked to the murder of three children earlier this week flared across the country.Masked anti-immigration demonstrators smashed several windows at a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.Unrest related to misinformation about the mass stabbing last Monday in the northwestern English seaside town of Southport has hit multiple towns and cities, with anti-immigration demonstrators clashing with police.
The violence is a major challenge for Starmer, who was elected only a month ago after leading Labour to a landslide win over the Conservatives.The violence is the worst England has seen since the summer of 2011 when widespread rioting took place following the police killing of a mixed-race man in north London.
Footage showed rioters forcing their way into a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham. They also pushed a burning bin into the building. It was not clear whether asylum seekers were inside.Ten officers were injured there, but local police said none of the hotel staff or its clients had been hurt.
The fresh disturbances came after police said more than 150 people had been arrested since Saturday following skirmishes at far-right rallies in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool and Hull, as well as Belfast in Northern reland.Rioters threw bricks, bottles and flares at police - injuring several officers - looted and burnt shops, while demonstrators shouted anti-Islamic slurs as they clashed with counter-protesters.In Belfast, Northern Ireland, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islam group and an anti-racism rally. Labour leaderss have accused Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage of stoking the trouble.
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