UK riots latest: More than 100 far-right protests planned tonight as fear spreads in communities (2024)

Counter-terrorism police are "actively assessing incidents" to understand whether terrorism legislation should be applied.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Matt Jukes said counter-terror police were supporting forces across the UK in their response to the "disgraceful disorder" - this included using intelligence gathering.

"We have seen terrible examples of violent crime, disorder and criminal damage, and charges are already being brought across the country," he said.

"I am very clear that using terrorism legislation or declaring activity as terrorism has not been, and will not be, ruled out.

"Counter terrorism policing is actively assessing incidents to understand whether terrorism legislation should be applied and we will make those judgements without fear or favour."

While police are preparing for a night of protests across the UK, there are further concerns over what the start of the Championship football season could bring this weekend, according to our crime correspondent Martin Brunt.

As many as 100 gatherings are planned this evening, with that number "rising dramatically" in the past 24 hours after "calls to arms" were spread on social media platforms like X, Facebook and Telegram.

"The police view for the days ahead is that, after tonight, which is almost certainly going to be troublesome in quite a lot of areas, it probably will peter out," says Brunt.

"But the weekend ahead, you've got the start of the Championship football season.

"You're going to have lots of football fans, many of whom align themselves with the far-right, criss-crossing the country, who may present more of a threat."

Anti-racism group Hope Not Hate says it is "prioritising 48 locations" tonight that it thinks are possible hotspots for far-right riots.

In a statement, the group referenced a list of 39 locations that was circulating widely on social media, though it did question how reliable it was.

"This single list, created by one Telegram channel, and likely one individual, differs from the wave of more organically organised riots and violence we have seen over the past week."

The group said it has found "very little discussion within far-right networks about attending" the places on the list."However, any and all services should be on high alert."

Hope Not Hate has also informed the authorities about nine other locations where far-right action is planned that are "more inline with the past week of events".

"These appear to be more locally organised and as such may attract larger numbers," it said.

"If you're planning to attend a counter demonstration please be positive, peaceful and safe.

"Don't let the far right bate you and your community into lashing out," it told followers on X.

By Ben van der Merwe, digital investigations journalist

Sky News has spoken to some of the lawyers across the UK whose businesses are being targeted by protesters tonight.

"We're worried they might come to our home - we have a five-year-old child," said one business owner, who left today to stay with relatives in another city.

"We don't even deal with immigration - we've had one immigration case. Our main business is tax."

Another lawyer, who also wanted to remain anonymous, told Sky News that the protest was due to take place at his home address, which is where his online-only practice is registered.

He too has fled his city, along with his wife and three daughters.

"They are young, but they understand what's going on," he said. "They've been asking if our house is going to be burnt down, if there will be bricks thrown through the windows.

"It's very difficult having to leave your own home - we don't know when we will be back, but the police have been very helpful."

Others told Sky News that their local police had offered little reassurance.

One business owner said he hadn't been contacted by the police at all, while two others said they were initially told the police would only act "if something happens".

Many of those who spoke to Sky News struggled to understand why their business had been targeted specifically.

Two said that the protesters were targeting offices they had moved out of months earlier.

"I think they've just gone on Google and picked the first immigration service they've seen," said an employee of one practice. "They don't even know what they're doing."

Some of the alleged offences landing people in court could be classed as terrorism.

That's according to the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, Stephen Parkinson, who told Sky News he knows of one instance where prosecutors are considering terror offences.

Our correspondent Matthew Thompson, who spoke to him, said Mr Parkinson "wouldn't go into specific details" but repeated claims he would be "looking into the possibility of terror offences".

"He did issue a warning about the planned protests, attacks targeting solicitors, mosques, by far-right groups," Thompson said.

"And he told me that the CPS would be looking very closely at those to see what charges could be brought - and that they would be bringing the most serious charges that they possibly could, and that might well include terror offences."

Careful what you share

There's also a warning to those reposting on social media, with Mr Parkinson telling us certain posts could be an offence of "incitement to racial hatred" - which "involves publishing or distributing material which is insulting or abusive, which is intended to, or likely to start racial hatred".

"So if you retweet that, then you'll be publishing that and then potentially you're committing that offence," he said, adding there are dedicated police officers "scouring" social media.

"Their job is to look for this material and then follow up with identification, arrests and so forth.

"So it's very, very serious, people might think they're not doing anything harmful. They are. And the consequences will be visited upon them."

Greater Manchester Police has told communities to "remain calm" and try to "go about your everyday life" amid concerns over further protests this evening.

The force says it has already made 26 arrests for a variety of offences and that 20 people have been charged.

In a statement shared online, GMP said it "understands the uncertainty and worry" that people are feeling due to the ongoing violent disorder.

It said GMP would update members of the public if it felt specific information about emerging incidents needed to be communicated.

"We are heavily resourced, and we have specialist officers and staff who are working around the clock to tackle these issues and ensure our communities are supported," it said.

The UK is bracing formore than 100 planned protests across the country - with thousands of specialist officers on standby.

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, about the dread and fear hanging over the Muslim community.He also discusses what the community is doing to protect those most vulnerable to the violence.

Plus, health correspondent Ashish Joshitellsof how NHS staff are also now facing racist abuse, which could lead to a refusal of emergency medical care.

The Labour MP for Norwich, Clive Lewis, says he will take part in a counter protest tonight outside an asylum hotel in the area "at possible risk from a mob of racists".

Police say they're expecting around 30 counter protests to take place tonight around the country as more than 100 far-right events planned.

The climate protest group Just Stop Oil says it is "calling a pause" on its protests while the country deals with far-right violence.

"The violence on our streets is endangering communities, particularly those of Muslims and people of colour," the group said.

"In accordance with our commitment to nonviolence, we will not stretch police resources, such that they are unable to protect communities most at risk."

The unrest is "a taste of what science is telling us will happen" because of climate change causing instability, Just Stop Oil said.

The protest group had previously promised to target "areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy" this summer.