Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised communities “will be safe” following a Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening and said those taking part in unrest will “feel the full force of the law”. Starmer added he was expecting “substantive sentencing before the end of this week”. “That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder.” A summary of today’s developments Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised communities “will be safe” following a Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening and said those taking part in unrest will “feel the full force of the law”. Starmer added he was expecting “substantive sentencing before the end of this week”. More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with rioting over the last week. There have been around a hundred charges in the wake of the spread of violent unrest, according to the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson. He also said that he is “willing” to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences. The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister Heidi Alexander has said, warning that those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”. The Metropolitan Police has vowed to protect London from “one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade”, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday. A man has become the first suspect to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred during the riots after posting messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers. Jordan Parlour pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred after making advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds. The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday. Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, Alexander also said. An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs announced. People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The man, who is in his 50s, remains in hospital in serious condition. Online spaces that are being used to incite and organise the far-right-led riots contain messages encouraging followers to consider Jewish people as a target, community security experts have warned. One forum, which was key to organising the first protest that turned into a riot last Tuesday in Southport, is allegedly jointly run by a suspected neo-Nazi. He is believed to be based overseas. Elon Musk called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” in reference to the conspiracy theory that police are treating white far-right “protesters” more harshly than minority groups. Downing Street would not engage again with the billionaire owner of X, having previously said his comments about a potential civil war in the UK had “no justification”. Since that criticism, Musk has been repeatedly targeting Keir Starmer on his social media platform. However, the Guardian understands Labour MPs have been privately warned not to engage in debate on Twitter about the far-right violence and to instead amplify calls for unity. A total of 51 police officers were injured during the riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, Yorkshire, on Sunday. South Yorkshire Police said a number of its officers sustained broken bones, a concussion, head wounds and bruising. An assault on a young boy in Belfast is being investigated as a hate crime by police. Officers said a large group of young people threw eggs at a shop on the Falls Road at 6.10pm on Tuesday. They said a young boy was also assaulted by up to 10 youths and sustained a minor facial injury. People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, who attended the scene, said the community was “disgusted” by the incident. Police have appealed to witnesses to get in touch through the online form on their website or contact Crimestoppers anonymously. Police in Durham issued dispersal orders to 37 people who arrived in the city centre on Tuesday evening after intelligence suggested public disorder was expected to break out. People aged between 13 and 38 were given the orders, which will remain in place until 12pm tomorrow. A 15-year-old boy was also arrested for a public order offence, Durham Police said. Paramilitaries are suspected to have been an “element” in the latest disorder in Belfast. Police came under sustained attack and the victim of a suspected hate crime is in a serious condition in hospital after violence in Belfast on Monday night. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said at one stage petrol was poured over a police Land Rover and set alight. Police deployed two attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs), with one rioter struck on the hand. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of riot, and possession of a weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, police said. He will appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The latest violence began late on Monday in the same area where two businesses were attacked on Saturday following an anti-immigration protest. Political leaders have called for calm, and both the Stormont Executive and Assembly are set to meet later this week. An attack on a business on the Falls Road in Belfast has been condemned by a local MLA. People Before Profit’s Gerry Carroll said locals defended the business from a group of young people on Tuesday evening. Carroll, who attended the scene, said the community is “disgusted” by the “shocking” incident. “It is deeply concerning to see young people swept up in such behaviour, especially when we have seen such sickening and widespread attacks on minorities in recent days,” he said. “I would appeal to all young people and everyone else to desist from these types of attacks, and to stand for diversity, inclusion and a welcome west Belfast.” Online spaces that are being used to incite and organise the far-right-led riots contain messages encouraging followers to consider Jewish people as a target, community security experts have warned. One forum, which was key to organising the first protest that turned into a riot last Tuesday in Southport, is allegedly jointly run by a suspected neo-Nazi. He is believed to be based overseas. He is alleged to have called previously for attacks overseas on Jewish places of worship, according to research by the Community Security Trust (CST). Last year he was reported to the police for alleged encouragement of violent antisemitism. One message in the forum insults “Gypsies” as well as Jews. The CST monitors and investigates antisemitism in Britain and provides safety advice to Jewish communities. It works closely with the police and Muslim groups. Generally, there is heightened fear and tension across communities that have already been attacked, as far-right organisers call for at least 30 sites around England to be targeted on Wednesday. Some are linked to immigration and asylum locations. Those at the gatherings have directed their violence towards people perceived as not being white or British. Organisers claim the gatherings are a protest over immigration, but the police are adamant that it is a “masquerade” for violent intent to physically harm minorities and asylum seekers, damage property and steal. A CST spokesperson said: “There are some people in this movement and their online spaces encouraging others to consider Jews as a target, as well as everyone else they have identified so far, such as ethnic minorities, Muslims and asylum seekers.” Starmer refused to be drawn into comments made by X owner Elon Musk about the ongoing disorder in the UK. When asked by reporters if he was worried about Musk’s impact on the unrest, or if the man who bought social media platform Twitter had a point with some of his opinions, Starmer said: “My focus is on ensuring that our communities are safe. That is my sole focus and I think it’s very important for us all to support the police in what they’re doing. “I went up to Southport to speak to some of the police who had been the first responders to the terrible attack that happened. They described the scene to me and what they had to deal with when those girls were attacked. “Those same officers were then attacked on their own streets later the same day – the same officers who had been the first responders. “Our first duty is to support the police in a difficult exercise that they are engaged in, keeping us safe… the police are doing a difficult job in difficult circumstances and I think that everybody should be giving their full support to ensure that we can make sure that our streets are safe and our communities feel safe and secure. “That is really where the focus ought to be. That is my sole focus and that’s why I held this second Cobra meeting.” Starmer has also reassured communities that “they will be safe” as concerns grow about further unrest on Wednesday. The PM told reporters: “They will be safe. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place. “Obviously it’s a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need, that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder. “But the message has to go to those that are involving themselves in this disorder, which is ‘you’re wrong, you shouldn’t be doing it, you will feel the full force of the law’, as I hope we’re demonstrating with these swift prosecutions.” Starmer added the criminal justice system has shown a “robust and swift response” in the face of ongoing unrest. Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s Cobra meeting, he said: “Within a week, the criminal justice system really has shown the robust and swift response that is very important to sending a message in circumstances like this.” Prime minister Keir Starmer has promised communities “will be safe” following a Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening and said those taking part in unrest will “feel the full force of the law”. Starmer added he was expecting “substantive sentencing before the end of this week”. “That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder.” As rioters hurled bricks, bottles and fireworks in a frenzy of violence in Plymouth, members of the local mosque were taking no chances. The riots, which mirrored those that have scarred so many communities in the past week, broke out on the high street on Monday as 150 officers in riot gear and with dogs sought to keep apart far-right rioters and Stand Up to Racism demonstrators in the city centre. Battles were fought near shops in Royal Parade opposite the Guildhall and the surrounding area in what one senior officer described as “sustained violence”. Just 15 minutes walk away, members of the local mosque were braced. About 50 to 60 people had turned up to protect the Plymouth Islamic Education Trust (Piety) building that houses the mosque where 1,000 regularly attend Friday prayers, said the centre’s director, Mohamed Muganzi. “They came of their own volition because they were worried enough about what might happen. They had seen what had happened elsewhere.” Last week, someone smashed the door to the centre, an act captured on CCTV and which Muganzi believes was motivated by what was happening in other towns. On Monday, Piety hired private security. Those community members who turned up to protect the building were “the second line of defence, after the police”, said Muganzi. Thankfully, he said, they were not needed as the building was not targeted. “But it really breaks my heart that there are some community members who feel this afraid.” Police have appealed for video footage of criminality, including an attack on a car, during a counter-protest staged after social media rumours of a far-right march being held in Birmingham. Officers are also treating an attack on a drinker who was punched and kicked outside a pub in the Yardley area of the city as violent disorder. Officers have also arrested a 46-year-old on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon after television coverage of a person apparently holding a sword, and added they are investigating attempts to slash a tyre on a Sky News vehicle. An online portal for witnesses to upload footage of the incidents has been set up on the West Midlands Police website at mipp.police.uk/operation/20HQ24C03-PO1 South Yorkshire police said a total of 51 officers were injured as a result of violence outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers, Rotherham on Sunday, with injuries including broken bones, concussion, bruising and head wounds. Police horses and dogs were also hurt, with one horse sustaining a hoof injury that has forced it retire from duty. Injured officers who have been unable to resume frontline duties are now part of the team trawling through footage and gathering evidence to secure arrests and charges, the force said. David Hartley, the force’s assistant chief constable, said officers were “truly grateful for the kind messages of thanks and support which have been received from our communities”, adding: “I am so proud of our officers’ bravery and resilience on the night and now their ongoing dedication to helping our communities remain safe, coming back to work despite being subjected to such terrible levels of violence. “If you were involved in the outright acts of violence and thuggery on Sunday, let me be clear - we are coming for you. We are determined to be arresting each and every one of the offenders from their homes in the coming days.” A summary of today"s developments Keir Starmer will chair another meeting on Tuesday evening on continued action to tackle the violent disorder. Police are monitoring reports of at least 30 possible events on Wednesday. More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with rioting over the last week. There have been around a hundred charges in the wake of the spread of violent unrest, according to the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson. He also said that he is “willing” to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences. The government has introduced more than 500 additional prison places in response to the far-right riots, the justice minister Heidi Alexander has said, warning that those causing disorder will have a “prison place waiting for them”. The Metropolitan Police has vowed to protect London from “one of the worst spates of violent disorder in the last decade”, as more protests are due to take place on Wednesday. A man has become the first suspect to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred during the riots after posting messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers. Jordan Parlour pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred after making advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds. The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday. Courts in England “could possibly” sit through the night to swiftly see rioters in the dock, Alexander also said. An extra 2,200 riot trained officers will be deployed to combat the extremist rightwing-led violence that has erupted since last week, police chiefs announced. People stamped on a man’s head in an attack that police are treating as a hate crime during another night of rioting in Belfast in Northern Ireland. The man, who is in his 50s, remains in hospital in serious condition Elon Musk called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” in reference to the conspiracy theory that police are treating white far-right “protesters” more harshly than minority groups. Downing Street would not engage again with the billionaire owner of X, having previously said his comments about a potential civil war in the UK had “no justification”. Since that criticism, Musk has been repeatedly targeting Keir Starmer on his social media platform. However, the Guardian understands Labour MPs have been privately warned not to engage in debate on Twitter about the far-right violence and to instead amplify calls for unity. Funding will not be a barrier to a strong police response to disorder, the home secretary told police chiefs. In a call on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper told chief constables their forces would receive support for overtime pay and any other resources they required when dealing with public disorder. She said: “The police have my unwavering commitment to ensure they have everything they need to mobilise a strong frontline response across the country to put a stop to the appalling displays of violence and criminal damage we have seen in some of our towns and cities. “Criminals should expect to pay the price for violent thuggery and disorder on our streets. “Keyboard warriors also cannot hide, as criminal organisation and incitement online will be liable for prosecution and strong penalties too. “My message to communities is to let the police do their jobs and to make clear that we collectively reject this criminality and disorder – not in our towns, not in our names. “The people peddling this violence and hate do not represent Britain”. Nigel Farage has claimed he was referring to claims made by influencer Andrew Tate when he asked whether the alleged Southport attacker was known to security services. In a video posted on 30 July, the day after the attack that killed three young girls, the Reform UK leader said there had been “reports” that the suspect was being monitored by the security services. Referring to the police description of the attack as a non-terror incident, he added: “I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. I don’t know the answer to that. I think it’s a fair and legitimate question.” Speaking to LBC on Tuesday, Farage declined to apologise for his comments, saying the disorder after the Southport attack had been so bad because “we weren’t told the truth”. He said his comments about the security services had been referring to posts by “prominent folks with a big following”, such as Andrew Tate falsely claiming the suspect had arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in a small boat in 2016. Tate has risen to prominence as an influencer and is awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Farage told LBC: “There were some stories online from prominent folks with a big following, Andrew Tate etc, suggesting that the man had crossed the English Channel in a boat in October 2023.” He added: “I asked a very simple question, was this person known or not.” Asked whether he had fallen for false claims online, Farage added: “I didn’t believe any of it, I hadn’t got a clue.” Outside the asylum seeker hotel, the far-right mob are baying “get them out” while hurling rocks, fireworks and other missiles. Behind the hotel windows, those who live there cower in terror. But this was not the scene outside the asylum seeker hotel in Rotherham that was attacked by far-right thugs on Sunday, nor in Hull on Saturday. This happened outside the Suites hotel in Knowsley on 10 February 2023. The far-right tactics haven’t changed much between then and now. The Home Office policy of housing tens of thousands of asylum seekers in hotels has made them a soft and visible target.