British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised "swift criminal sanctions" in connection with the far-right protests that broke out in England because of the murder of 3 children, reported AFP.
Starmer met ministers and police chiefs, including Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley, to discuss how to deal with the violent protests.
Over the weekend, several police officers were injured and dozens of people arrested as mobs throwing bricks and flares clashed with police, torched and looted shops and smashed windows of cars and homes.
"As part of a range of actions to be taken as a result of the meeting, the Government will strengthen criminal justice to ensure that criminal sanctions are swift," Starmer said.
He also said a "standing army" of specially trained police officers was ready to be deployed to support local forces in the event of further unrest.
"My focus is on making sure we stop these riots," he added.
A day after three young girls were killed and five other children were seriously injured in a knife attack at a dance class, clashes broke out in Southport.
Initially, false rumors spread on social media that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. Police said the suspect was a 17-year-old boy born in Wales, and British media reported his parents were from Rwanda.
However, this has not prevented mosques from becoming targets of attacks.
Since then, police have arrested hundreds of people in cities across the country, as anti-immigration demonstrators have clashed with police and counter-protesters, including Muslim groups. | BGNES
