UK Deploys Specialist Police Amid Far-Right Riots

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the deployment of a 'standing army' of specialist police officers to tackle violent riots sparked by misinformation about a stabbing incident in Southport. The riots, fueled by false claims that the suspect was a Muslim immigrant, have targeted Muslim communities and resulted in hundreds of arrests and numerous injuries to police officers. Starmer emphasized that the violence is not legitimate protest but pure thuggery, and promised swift and severe legal consequences for those involved, including rapid court processing and substantial sentencing. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the capacity of the overstretched criminal justice system to handle the influx of cases without delaying other serious prosecutions like rape. The government has also criticized social media platforms for not doing enough to curb the spread of misinformation that has incited the violence.