The recent surge of far-right violence across the UK should be classified as terrorism, according to a former senior police officer.
Neil Basu, the ex-head of counter-terrorism in Britain, condemned the rioters who attacked a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers, branding them “bullies and cowards.”
Basu argued that those responsible for the most severe acts of violence and racially motivated attacks should be prosecuted under counter-terrorism laws.
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He highlighted that attempts to set buildings ablaze with occupants inside, driven by racial hatred, fit the definition of terrorism and deserve severe penalties.
Courts minister Heidi Alexander responded by emphasizing that decisions on prosecutions rest with the Crown Prosecution Service, not the government.
She decried the “absolutely disgusting and vile and totally unacceptable behaviour” seen on UK streets, labeling the actions as “racist attacks” and “dangerous extremism.”
Alexander stressed the need for accountability, calling for consequences for those engaging in what she described as “downright criminal behaviour.” Her remarks were in reaction to Basu’s comments to the Guardian, where he described the violent acts as an attempt at modern-day lynching, deserving of life imprisonment rather than a mere five-year sentence for violent disorder.
The recent riots have targeted hotels housing asylum seekers, mosques, and predominantly Muslim areas. The unrest began in Southport following the fatal stabbings of three girls and has since spread to various towns and cities across the UK.
This violence has also had a significant impact on healthcare workers, with the NHS England chief executive warning that many feel “afraid and unwelcome.”
Tell MAMA, an organization monitoring anti-Muslim incidents, has reported far-right threats targeting immigration lawyers and refugee services at over 30 locations nationwide.
A Telegram channel with 13,000 members listing specific immigration charities, advice centers, and solicitors as targets for attacks.
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