Innocent bystanders are attacked just for the colour of their skin – it’s not protests… it’s thuggery, Starmer slams

ATTACKING innocent Brits for the colour of their skin is thuggery, not a protest, Sir Keir Starmer blasted today.

The PM hit out at the depraved far-right maniacs wreaking havoc across Britain by cruelly targeting and attacking ethnic minorities.

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He said: "This is not protest this is violence.

"We're not going to tolerate that in this country."

Today Sir Keir summoned ministers and police chiefs for the first Cobra meeting since the riots started.

The PM and top cops put online and in-person thugs on notice, warning the full force of the law will come down on them.

A No10 spokesperson warned social media bosses that they have a responsibility to guarantee criminal activity doesn't appear or run amok on their platforms.

They said ministers are in close contact with tech chiefs to "ensure they are meeting their obligations" around racist illegal activity.

Downing Street also confirmed there are enough free prison cells to ensure every last rioter is locked up.

A No10 spokesperson said: "The police, Home Office and National Crime Agency are working to tackle criminality online and to ensure people are prosecuted.

"They are working to tackle misinformation and bot activity.

"The additional courts protocol is in place to ensure that additional court capacity is in place as is needed, and as the home office announced, the protective security scheme for mosques has been extended with additional security in place across across the country."

In Westminster the PM paid tribute to the "hard work of police officers over the past week" and "sent best wishes to those who have been injured protecting our streets".

Sir Keir was told hundreds of arrests have been made and cops will continue to update ministers in relation to progress on arrests and charging.

There have been no requests from forces across the UK for the army to step in and provide back-up.

But additional police resources around the country at strategic locations are ready to be deployed where necessary. 

More than 420 people have been arrested after social media lies whipped up riots across the UK.

Hundreds of thugs petrol-bombed a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, near Sheffield, yesterday.

Rioters in balaclavas hurled bricks and fire extinguishers at cops who tried in vain to stop them torching the hotel.

Ten riot cops were injured - including one who was knocked out after suffering a head injury.

Yobs also petrol-bombed a Holiday Inn hosting asylum seekers in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

A children's library in Liverpool and a Citizens' Advice centre in Sunderland were also torched over the weekend.

Mosques across the country have been attacked and shops owned by ethnic minority Brits have been looted.