UK gears up for feared resurgence of far-right anti-migrant violence

Britain is mobilizing 1,000 extra specialized police officers in case of racist rioting over the weekend and the government says it is considering tightening regulations around social media companies after days of unrest driven by online misinformation.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says extra police numbers and swift justice had deterred people he referred to as “far-right thugs” since Wednesday, but that authorities will remain on alert for further trouble.

“We have to stay on high alert going into this weekend,” Starmer says.

Riots broke out across the country a week ago after a wave of false online posts wrongly identified the suspected killer of three young girls in a knife attack on July 29 in Southport, northwest England, as an Islamist migrant.

Racist attacks and disorder have mostly targeted Muslims and migrants. Hotels housing asylum-seekers have had their windows smashed and mosques have been pelted with rocks.

It is not clear how many far-right gatherings are planned or if they will go ahead. There are around 40 counter-protests due on Saturday, according to the Stand Up to Racism group.

Those involved in the riots could expect to be brought before the courts, Starmer said, noting that what he calls “significant sentences” have already been handed out.

“That is a very important part of the message to anybody who is thinking about getting involved in further disorder,” he said.

UK Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas–Symonds tells Sky News the government will revisit the framework of the country’s Online Safety Act that regulates social media companies’ responsibilities regarding content inciting violence or hate.

“We stand ready to make changes if necessary,” he says of the act, passed in October but not due to come into effect until next year due to a consultation process.