Activists holding beer cans have began a protest outside a migrant hotel in Rotherham this afternoon, kicking off yet another day of violent riots which have seen cities torn apart across the UK.
Tensions are high between anti-immigration demonstrators and police, with the past few days seeing officers attacked, cars set on fire and innocent pedestrians targeted in the street.
Shocking photos from this afternoon show balaclava-clad rioters drinking beer as they formed a crowd outside The Holiday Inn in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where asylum seekers and immigrants are housed.
One person’s face was seen completely covered with a Union Jack mask while they waved a large England flag outside the hotel.
Meanwhile, anti-racism counter protesters have increased tensions for police by arriving at the scene holding up banners reading ‘Refugees welcome: Stop the far right’.
The fresh day of riots comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to go on holiday with his family, it is understood, a decision which has been slammed by MPs.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick criticised Sir Keir for the getaway plan, branding it ‘completely wrong’ amid a week of chaos in the country.
The disruption across England and Northern Ireland began on Tuesday in Southport, after three little girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Anti-immigration supporters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham today
Rioters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, kicking off another day of chaos
An anti-immigration protester wearing a Union Jack mask outside of the Holiday Inn Express
Mounted police stand in front of anti-racism counter protesters holding placards outside of the Holiday Inn Express
Police officers and anti-immigration supporters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham
Mounted police stand opposite anti-racism counter protesters holding placards outside of the Holiday Inn Express
Police officers and anti-immigration supporters standing outside the hotel housing migrants in Rotherham
Anti-racism counter protesters hold placards outside of the Holiday Inn Express
Police officers and anti-immigration supporters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham
An aerial view of the Holiday Inn Express, which has seen rioters gather outside it for another day of chaos in the UK
BRISTOL: A protester holding a piece of concrete walks towards riot police as clashes erupt in Bristol yesterday
NOTTINGHAM: Police officers detain a woman during a protest in Nottingham Market Square yesterday afternoon
Slamming Sir Keir’s alleged plans to go on holiday, Mr Jenrick told GBN Live: ‘I think it would be completely wrong for the Prime Minister to go on holiday whilst parts of Britain are burning.
‘I’m sure that the government, like the whole country, sees the severity of the situation.’
The politician added: ‘I know they’re trying to get a grip on it and I welcome some of the measures they’ve already taken, like having more persecutors, having the courts sit weekends, but this is a very serious situation.’
However, Chris Webb, the Labour MP for Blackpool South, said Sir Keir ‘has to have family time’.
He told LBC’s Matthew Wright: ‘The government will continue and we’ve got an excellent Deputy Prime Minister.
‘Keir has to have family time, there’s no doubt about it. Every Prime Minister has to have that family time and that break but from what I know of Keir – and I’ve met him many times, and sitting here in Blackpool several times – he will be continuing to work and monitor the situation wherever he is on holiday.’
Cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and Belfast have seen vehicles burned, shops destroyed, pedestrians attacked and police officers injured this week following the Southport stabbings on Monday.
Arrests have been made across the country, with police warning of more to come once CCTV, social media and body-worn camera footage has been scoured.
There was violence on Saturday in towns and cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast, which saw several police officers injured. It followed a riot in Sunderland on Friday evening.
A community library on the Merseyside that only opened last year after months of fundraising was set on fire last night as more than 300 people descended on the streets of a deprived city suburb.
LIVERPOOL: Police officers attend to a shell-shocked colleague after a face-off with protesters on Saturday
LIVERPOOL: Charred wheelie bins outside the Spellow Hub community library after a night of violent disorder in Liverpool
LIVERPOOL: Council workers clear debris from County Road after a night of violent disorder
HULL: Tyres had been set on fire as black smoke from the blaze filled the city’s streets
As firefighters tried to put on the flames that engulfed Spellow Lane Library Hub – which also functions as a food bank – rioters threw a missile at the engine, before breaking the rear window of a nearby cab.
Shocking photos from this morning show the burnt out interior of the library, with bookshelves tipped on their side, and glass surrounding the remaining computers.
One officer was shoved off his motorbike while another was looked after by colleagues after appearing shell-shocked following a violent confrontation with a protester.
Elsewhere, shameless looters took advantage of the violent mayhem, stealing everything from phones, shoes and wine from local shops.
