LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency security meeting Monday after far-right riots spread over the weekend, and residents of villages, towns and cities across the country woke up to scenes of buildings set on fire and asylum seeker hotels stormed by angry mobs.
Nearly 150 people were arrested over the weekend, U.K.’s National Police Chiefs’ Council said Sunday.
False rumors about the suspect quickly spread online, fueling an outburst of violence.
On Sunday, two hotels where asylum seekers are believed to be living, were targeted by mobs in what has turned into the worst disorder the U.K. has seen in years.
The South Yorkshire police, where Rotherham is, later said its officers were also targeted with glass bottles and beer cans by a crowd of about 700 people.
Persons:
Keir Starmer, Jack, “
Organizations:
LONDON, National Police Chiefs ’, BBC, Reuters, South, South Yorkshire police
Locations:
Southport, Rotherham, South Yorkshire