Weekend of UK riots - as it happened: Hotels attacked, car windows smashed and police injured (2024)

The scenes of violence and disorder involving far-right and anti-immigrant groups continued this weekend - nearly a week on from the Southport stabbings.

Here is what happened over the last 24 hours:

• Anti-immigration rioters attacked police and smashed the windows of a hotel in Rotherham;
• At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police confirmed later;
• Staffordshire Police warned people to stay away from the Holiday Inn in Tamworth, which was hit with "violent acts of thuggery" and one officer was injured;
• A group of rioters in Middlesbrough smashed the windows of houses and cars and hurled objects at officers;
• Cleveland Police said 35 arrests had been made so far;
• Sir Keir Starmer vowed rioters would "regret" engaging in "far-right thuggery" in a televised address to the nation;
• Meanwhile, the Home Office announced mosques would be offered greater protection under a new "rapid response process" designed to quickly tackle the threat of further attacks on places of worship;
• Ministers suggested that courts could sit 24 hours to fast-track prosecutions - as they did in 2011.

The violence seen across the UK today features on most of Monday's front pages.

The Times leads with comments by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that those that incited the riot face a "reckoning".

Meanwhile, the Guardian leads on the prime minister's earlier warning that rioters will regret their part in the violence.

The Daily Mail reports that far-right activist Tommy Robinson was on holiday in Cyprus while publishing incendiary posts on social media.

In Middlesbrough today, one resident condemned the violence on the streets - and pointed out it had nothing to do with the stabbings in Southport.

About 300 people gathered in front of a mosque on Waterloo Road 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."

Another woman shouted "you fascist thugs", while a man who was with her shouted at police: "You’re letting them rampage through the city."

Rioters smashed windows 'because we're English'

Some rioters were seen smashing car windows as they walked through a residential area, including one rioter who threw a piece of broken glass through the window of a home.

One of the group used a racial slur while shouting "which car are we going to smash next?".

Another replied "because we’re English" when asked by a resident why they were breaking windows.

A scuffle broke out between protesters and a small group of people whose cars were smashed.

The riots you've been seeing over the weekend were triggered by the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport - and a wave of misinformation about the suspect's background being spread online.

And while those widely condemned far-right protests have been raging on, people in Southport have continued leaving floral tributes for the three stabbing victims: Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

Here are some of the tributes that were left in the Merseyside town on Sunday.

Responding to the events of this weekend, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Everyone across the UK was shocked and appalled by the dreadful attack in Southport on Monday, which took the lives of three innocent little girls.

"Most people have come together to grieve with love and compassion. But sadly, a minority of far-right extremists have disgraced themselves by exploiting this tragedy to commit appalling acts of violence, targeting Muslims, asylum seekers and communities of colour."

He added: "I am deeply angered by the riots and disorder that we have seen these past few days and welcome the extra protections now in place. This lawlessness is unacceptable and it must be stopped and those responsible must face the full force of the law.

"And amidst these awful scenes, we should all take heart from the immense compassion, kindness and decency shown by the vast majority, not least those communities who are being specifically targeted. Their example is one we must all follow."

Read more on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response to the riots earlier today...

We earlier brought you news about the shadow Wales secretary Lord Davies of Gower, who appeared to claim on social media that the violent disorder in the UK was "politically justified" (see 6.33pm post).

He apologised on social media earlier this evening but said he stands by his criticism of "Labour's totally negative approach to immigration and organised crime".

Cleveland Police have said they arrested 35 people during the violence on Sunday.

In an update just after 10pm, the force said officers remain in the area but crowds had largely dispersed.

"Today's events have resulted in significant damage to the crown court, the university and a number of properties in the Parliament Road area."

Cleveland Police have now arrested a total of 110 people across Teesside since the violence broke out last week.

Assistant chief constable David Felton said that the level of violence was "staggering".

"We know the shocking scenes across Middlesbrough today will have caused alarm amongst communities," he said.

"I want to reassure the people of Teesside that we will continue to identify those involved in these acts of violence and arrest them and put them before the courts."

New footage has emerged of far-right rioters attacking a second hotel this evening.

The video appears to show a group surrounding the premises in Tamworth before starting a fire.

Police posted on X this evening that they were "urging members of the public to avoid the area around the Holiday Inn, Tamworth, as specialist officers continue to deal with violent acts of thuggery".

A cameraman covering violence in Rotherham had his filming equipment taken out of his hands and smashed onto the floor.

He had been attempting to film rioters as they started to throw bricks at a police van.

"One of the rioters just grabbed it out of my hand, said something like 'no cameras here' and smashed it on the ground basically," he said. "It was quite a shocking moment at first.

"But luckily they were more focused on getting my camera out of the way than doing any harm to me."

Police officers in the West Midlands town of Solihull are responding to calls about "a large gathering".

In a post on X, they said: "We're there making sure everyone stays safe until the numbers disperse."