Ex-counterterrorism boss issues warning to UK rioters

The ex-counterterrorism head of the Metropolitan Police has issued a warning to the anti-immigration protestors taking part in disorders across the UK, and called the attack on hotels housing asylum seekers a "modern-day lynching".

Neil Basu, who headed the counter-terrorism department from 2018 to 2021, has said the riots have “crossed the line into terrorism”, and hopes his "successors are looking at that very closely.”

Basu said he thinks "we have seen serious acts of violence designed to cause terror to a section of our community," reported the BBC.

On Sunday, a group of rioters in Rotherham attempted to burn down a Holiday Inn Express, which was believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Basu said this shocking act of extreme violence was "designed to cause terror" and "people should look very carefully" at the definition of terrorism.

Basu believes that something needs to be done about "lies spread through social media" which have triggered the current wave of violence.

Far-right groups have been using the messaging platform Telegram to share instructions on how to make petrol bombs and an "arson manual" produced by National Socialism/White Power Crew, who are a Russian neo-Nazi group, reported the Mail Online.

Six people appeared in court on August 6 charged with violent disorder after the hotel attack.

Anti-immigration protestors are also feared to be plotting attacks on immigration lawyers, with a list of solicitors firms and advice agencies being reportedly shared with a group on social media counting thousands of people in it.

Far-Right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared a plethora of inciting messages to his thousands of followers on X, whilst on holiday in Cyprus.

Robinson, who had been banned from Twitter, was given his account back after the social media platform was bought by Elon Musk.

Basu said that more needed to be done to stop Robinson "glorifying and creating violence from his sunbed in the Mediterranean".

"Trying to set ablaze a building with people inside, whom you have made clear you detest, is an act of violence against people and property with a racial cause designed to intimidate a section of the public – be it Muslims or asylum seekers", the former counter-terrorism boss told The Guardian.

“Not only does it fit the definition of terrorism, it is terrorism. It’s nothing short of an attempt at a modern-day lynching and the people who did it should be facing life imprisonment, not a five-year sentence for violent disorder.”

Basu also argued that the organisers of these protests should face punishment. “We overestimate the intelligence of thugs. They don’t think about the consequences of their actions until it’s too late, but jail a few and the others will run back under cover. They are bullies and cowards,” he said.

“Their criminal puppet masters, the organisers, those who encourage, have to be dealt with too. They are also bullies and cowards.”