Sir Keir Starmer is due to hold the second COBRA conference tonight as fears over immigration and right-wing extremism rock British cities.
Police sources said they were aware of 30 meetings planned for tomorrow. A “big day” of chaos is expected and law firms have also been threatened.
A 46-year-old man has been arrested after television footage showed him armed with what was clearly a samurai sword
A 46-year-old man has been arrested after television footage showed a man armed with what was clearly a samurai sword at a counter – demonstration in Birmingham.
West Midlands Police said the man had been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.
Police say they are investigating after a drinker was attacked outside Yardley’s Clumsy Swan pub in the town.
Further investigations are also underway into damage to windows at a pub, an attempt to slash the tyres of a News truck and damage to a Skoda which was forced to drive across grass after the attack.
Some of the crimes committed during the riots have been “transformed into terrorism offences”
Some of the crimes committed during last week’s riots have been “transformed into terrorism offences”, a former counter-terrorism police commissioner has said.
Hundreds of people have been arrested so far, some already awaiting trial and charged with a range of offences.
Neil Basu told News that many crimes against public order have been committed, as well as violent crimes and crimes against individuals.
“Some of them will face harsh penalties themselves… “But in my view there are some offences that clearly cross the Rubicon and become terrorism offences,” he added.
The furor began when online posts falsely suggested the suspect in the Southport attack, who killed three children and seriously injured eight others, was an asylum seeker.
They have since been fuelled by a series of inflammatory posts, including one from Elon Musk, who said a civil war in the UK was “inevitable”.
Bass called the comments “shameful” and said social media companies “must do more” to stop them being published.
“This is totally frustrating and we will need to consider strengthening the already new law, the Online Safety Act,” he added.
Listen, who are the rioters?
As police try to contain violent riots spreading across the UK, several people accused of involvement have appeared in court.
Hundreds of rioters have been arrested and court cases are expected to be long in an effort to speed up convictions.
Home affairs reporter Henry Vaughan watched people board the docks and told The Daily Podcast what he saw and how the defendants reacted in court.
The Metropolitan Police said it would use “all forces, tactics and tools” to combat “violent” acts in London.
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of events planned by “hateful and divisive groups” across the capital tomorrow and warned that all involved would be “faced with the full force of the law”.
Deputy Constable Andy Valentine, in charge of policing, said the country was facing “one of the worst waves of violent unrest in the last decade”.
Many officers were injured in battles with rioters, some with broken bones and some requiring hospital treatment.
The Metropolitan Police deployed extra officers to parts of London in preparation for events planned for tomorrow.
“This is an incident of national importance and we will do everything we can to keep London and its communities safe,” said DAC Valentine.
“The scenes of racist and brutal criminal behaviour across the country were absolutely shocking. Members of the public and police officers were attacked and many were injured.
“We will not tolerate this on our streets and we will use all our force, tactics and tools to prevent further violence.”
In total, more than 100 people have been arrested following riots in central London last week.
Hundreds of people gathered outside Downing Street following the attack in Southport which left three girls dead and eight children injured.
“Our message to anyone seeking to cause trouble is clear – you will face the full force of the law,” said DAC Valentine.
“Our police officers put the safety of others before their own. They have been subjected to dangerous, violent scenes and verbal abuse in the name of public duty and keeping the Crown peace.
“They will continue to carry out their duties over the coming days and weeks.”