Riots continued across Britain on Sunday

Riots continued across Britain on Sunday as aggressors set fire to hotels used to house asylum seekers.

Hotels were set on fire in Rotherham and Tamworth while in Bolton, rival groups of anti-immigrant and Muslim youths were kept apart by police.

Elsewhere, a mob in Middlesbrough targeted the homes of migrants, shouting “smash the p—”.

The violence follows widespread disorder across the country on Saturday which saw riots occur in Belfast, Nottingham, Liverpool, Stoke and Hull.

Rotherham

A planned protest in the South Yorkshire town of Rotherham quickly turned violent when scores of masked and hooded youths, many carrying England or Union flags, began throwing missiles at police.

Around 700 people descended on the town’s Holiday Inn Express hotel which has previously been used to house asylum seekers.

With police quickly outnumbered and overwhelmed, the mob began hurling planks of wood and bricks at officers who used riot shields to protect themselves.

Hotel staff and residents were left cowering as the baying mob chanted “get them out”, “we want our country back” and “Yorkshire”.

After smashing several ground-floor windows, the rioters then attempted to set the hotel on fire, torching bins and then using them to blockade the exits.

At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police confirmed later, saying one person had already been arrested and others involved should “expect us to be at their doors very soon”.

Police on horseback attempted to disperse the crowd but a large number made their way to the hotel entrance and after smashing windows, managed to get inside.

Riot police moved in to clear the burning debris but found themselves coming under attack by a group throwing rocks and other missiles.

A group of men inside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham said they had fled war zones and other hostile countries but did not expect to see violence in the UK which they thought was a “safe country”.

A man speaking on behalf of several asylum seekers including Kurds, Afghans and Iranians told The Telegraph he heard screams as rioters broke in and fire alarms went off.

“We were told to stay in our rooms, the staff locked the hotel,” he said.

“We then heard them breaking in. We could hear the breaking of mirrors, glass and doors. It was terrible. We only knew the fire had started when the fire alarms went off.

“It was so terrible for us and this is the first experience we’ve had like this.”

Speaking in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer said those involved should expect to feel the “full force of the law”.

Addressing them directly, he said: “You will regret taking part in this… I won’t shy away from calling it what it is – far-Right thuggery.”

Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, said he was utterly appalled by the violence witnessed in the town.

He said: “What we’re seeing is not protest, it is brutal thuggery directed against some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“The people carrying out these attacks do not represent the beautiful, brilliant place and people I know.

“We will come after those carrying out this violence with the full force of the law.”

Meanwhile, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, condemned the reckless actions of the mob and said the police would take the strongest action against those responsible.

She said: “The criminal, violent attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham is utterly appalling. Deliberately setting fire to a building with people known to be inside.

“South Yorkshire Police have full government support for the strongest action against those responsible.”

Tamworth
A police officer broke their arm after rioters targeted a second hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers on Sunday.

Rioters smashed hotel windows and used three petrol bombs to start a series of fires, police said.

“Police officers were faced with being attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks, and damage was caused to the hotel by protesters, with the lives of residents inside put at risk,” Staffordshire Police said in a statement.

“Fortunately, no one inside was injured.”

Pictures posted on social media showed ‘Get out England’ had been graffitied across the side of the building.

Police have been using specialist drone surveillance and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) to sweep the area to try to identify those responsible for acts of violence.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “The senseless violence and acts of despicable thuggery in Tamworth tonight are completely inexcusable. The local community do not deserve to be subject to this behaviour, and neither do the brave officers putting themselves in harm’s way to keep everyone safe.

“There have already been more than 100 arrests nationally in connection with these acts and I expect those who are identified will meet the full force of the law.”

Middlesbrough
Violence once again flared in the North East, which had already been the scene of widespread disorder in Hartlepool and Sunderland.

This time, a planned demonstration in Middlesbrough turned violent with racist attacks launched against members of the migrant community and Asian-owned businesses.

Some 300 far-Right supporters gathered at the town’s cenotaph at around 2pm for a planned march to the town’s Central Square.

Addressing the crowd, one of the organisers said: “You are all here today lads, for the three kids who were killed in Southport and the future of our country; it is not about race or colour or religion. Let’s all keep it right today and stand up for our country, our kids and our families.”

But soon after the march began, skirmishes broke out between masked agitators and the police with rocks and fireworks thrown.

Chanting “we want our country back”, some of the thugs attempted to break through police lines.

After arriving at the town’s Central Square, some of the demonstrators broke away into smaller groups before dispersing and heading towards the Gresham area, where many of the town’s immigrant population live.

Armed with metal bars and wooden posts and to chants of “smash the p—”, the jeering mob attacked houses and cars at random, even setting one vehicle on fire.

One victim, a white man in his 40s, had his living room window smashed.

He said: “I’m born and bred in Middlesbrough and these morons target my house just for the hell of it. I could hear them yelling about immigrants but they were smashing car and house windows indiscriminately. They’re the scum of the earth.”

But the intended targets were clearly the homes and businesses of members of the migrant community.

Windows were smashed as terrified families, including children, cowered inside. Some of the locals came to their aid and helped comfort the victims and sweep up broken glass.

Suzie Hunton was one of those. She said: “I’m helping a Romanian family who had bricks hurled through their window.

“The young woman who lives here was asleep in bed when the window [was smashed] through. She was terrified to be confronted by this masked gang who were shouting racist slogans.

“The house next door which is also occupied by an asylum [seeker] family had its door kicked off the hinges entirely.

“It was clear that they have young children because there was a pram outside the house. They are completely terrified and can’t believe what they are witnessing in this country.

“It is sickening to see such blatant out-and-out thuggery aimed at young families who have done nothing to provoke it.”

An upstairs neighbour, who was also helping with the clean-up, said: “They were yelling, ‘There ain’t no black in the Union Jack’, and randomly smashing windows in the hope the houses belonged to immigrant families.

“It is mob rule and it was absolutely terrifying to witness. People from all over the world live on this street and they are lovely families trying to make a better life. They deserve better than what they’ve been subjected to today.”

Footage on social media appeared to show Asian men, bearing weapons, clash with anti-immigration protesters, while other videos appear to show people being jumped on or followed.

The rioters later returned to the cenotaph where riot police again came under fire from bricks and bottles.

In Albert Park, close to the cenotaph, families who were out for a walk condemned the violence.

Joanne Williams, 38, said: “These people don’t speak for Middlesbrough; this is a town where people care for each other no matter their race or colour.

“I’ve seen these so-called protesters assembling and it disgusts me. A lot of them are wearing masks; why do that if you’re not planning trouble?”

Ian Harper, 71, said: “I’m surprised how many have turned out. I expected better of Middlesbrough, although I’m sure many will have been bussed in.

“I saw a group of them getting off minibuses in the side streets before walking down to the meeting points with hoods up and wearing masks.

“Middlesbrough is a town of tolerance and these people are a tiny minority who put the place to shame.”

Shortly before 1.30am on Monday, Cleveland Police said 43 people had been arrested and the disorder had ended.

“A policing presence will remain in the town throughout the night and into tomorrow and the coming days,” the statement said.

“A full investigation is now under way.”

Bolton
In Bolton, police struggled to prevent a mob of far-Right agitators and gangs of young, mainly Muslim men from clashing.

A large anti-immigration protest close to the town hall began peacefully but soon descended into violence and disorder.

Counter demonstrators, some shouting “Allahu Akbar”, meaning God is greatest, clashed with those taking part in the protest, while police tried to keep them apart.

Missiles including fireworks, bricks and bottles were thrown.

As a result, Greater Manchester Police brought in extra powers allowing officers to stop and search people and force them to remove face coverings.