UK prime minister says ‘standing army’ will help stop violent riots

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency meeting with senior government minister, police and prison chiefs on Monday (local time).

He said those who targeted Muslim communities would swiftly face the "full force of the law".

"Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest; it is pure violence and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities," Starmer said following the meeting.

"The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part."