London Thanasis Gavos

The British Prime Minister gave an emergency press conference in Downing Street this afternoon on the violent incidents of the last two days that followed the heinous crime against the little girls at a dance class in Southport.

Sir Keir Starmer, speaking shortly after a meeting with police chiefs, first called on all “to give space” to the families of the victims of the “unthinkable” knife attack, which has claimed the lives of three girls.

Turning his attention to the incidents that took place on Tuesday night in Southport and on Wednesday night in London and other cities, Mr Starmer said they were the actions of a “very small, brainless minority“, of a “gang of thugs».

He added that the targeting of Muslim mosques, the defacement of the Churchill statue with smoke bombs and the Nazi salute at the Cenotaph clearly show what these thugs are.

He said that in the meeting with the police commanders it was decided “to enter an end» to the criminal violence of these protests. He announced the creation of a new national unit to crack down on violent disorder, with police officers who will be able to move quickly from community to community, just as gang members do.

The new unit will, among other things, have the right to make wider use of personal identification technology and to issue movement restriction orders due to criminal behaviour.

The incidents have been sparked by far-right elements after a false rumor was spread online that the perpetrator of the crime in Southport was an illegal immigrant.

He is actually Cardiff-born, Rwandan-born 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana.

Mr Starmer also called on social media chiefs to abide by the law by not allowing incitement to violence through their pages.

Addressing Muslims in Britain, he pledged to take all necessary measures to keep them safe.