Starmer to hold another COBRA meeting to prepare for further protests

Sir Keir Starmer will hold an emergency COBRA meeting today after a minister said intelligence shows more protests are planned.

The prime minister will meet security officials and police chiefs to discuss and to plan for the coming days of potential further unrest.

Concerns 100 protests planned by far-right groups would turn violent on Wednesday, after a week of riots, did not materialise and counter-protesters instead took to the streets in towns and cities across England in support of migrants.

But on Thursday morning policing minister Dame Diana Johnson told Sky News there is “intelligence of events during the next few days”.

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Sir Keir said: “Now it’s important that we don’t let up here and that’s why later on today I will have another COBRA meeting with law enforcement, with senior police officers, to make sure that we reflect on last night but also plan for the coming days.”

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The PM has already held two COBRA meetings this week after riots began last Tuesday following false information spreading online that the Southport stabbings suspect was a Syrian asylum seeker who had come to the UK in a small boat last year.

He is actually 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents. He has been charged with the murder of three young girls and attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.

Since the rioting began, more than 120 people have been charged with various offences, including violent disorder, racially aggravated harassment and using threatening words online to stir up racial hatred.

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Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Wednesday night’s planned protests did not materialise due to a show of force from the police and unity from communities.

Dame Diana said she thought the far-right protesters did not turn up thanks to the police presence – and the swift arrest and prosecution of rioters over the past week.

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Sir Keir added: “Last night was much better than was expected, but we are not going to give up on our efforts here.

“That’s why it’s very important I continue my discussions coordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders, to make sure we’ve got the right officers in the right place to keep pushing on the criminal justice response.

“I was very keen that we’re able to demonstrate that if you’re involved in disorder, within days, you’ll be in the criminal justice system and some people starting long terms of imprisonment.”

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On Thursday morning, two men were jailed for violence during riots in Southport and Liverpool.

Their cases have been fast-tracked through the courts as police, prosecutors, and the government look to send a message to anyone involved in the disorder, with more sentences expected across the country this week.

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