HUMZA Yousaf has called on Keir Starmer to send in the Army as far-right riots in England and Northern Ireland escalate.
Anti-immigration demonstrators have attacked police and smashed the windows of a hotel, as unrest across the country continues.
Masked rioters launched lengths of wood and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers outside a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Videos from social media appeared to show demonstrators storming into the hotel, with reports of a fire inside.
Yousaf reacted to the scenes, asking the Prime Minister: “How much worse does it have to get before the army is sent in””
The former Scottish first minister added that police “clearly do not” have a handle on the situation.
How much worse does it have to get before the army is sent in @Keir_Starmer ? The Police clearly do not have a handle on this situation. This pogrom against Muslims and People of Colour is going to cost lives unless these far-right thugs are stopped. https://t.co/U279igA5CV
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 4, 2024
He added: “This pogrom against Muslims and People of Colour is going to cost lives unless these far-right thugs are stopped.”
First Minister John Swinney also condemned the violence.
"The latest incident in Rotherham - just like other events in recent days - is the product of far-right racist thuggery. Racism must be confronted whenever and wherever it appears," he said on Twitter/X.
Meanwhile, MP Zarah Sultana called for Westminster to be recalled amid the violence.
Elsewhere in England, Greater Manchester Police said a Section 34 dispersal notice has been authorised covering Bolton until 10pm on Sunday, where a protest is expected later.
Merseyside Police have introduced two section 60 orders giving officers greater stop-and-search powers covering Liverpool and Southport.
The orders were put in place at 2pm on Sunday and will stay active for a 12-hour period until 2am on Monday.
Inspector Al McKeon said: “The scenes we saw yesterday in Liverpool and Walton, and on Tuesday in Southport, were despicable. They left dozens of officers requiring hospital treatment and have already led to the arrests of a total of 33 suspects.”
Police have “all the resources they need” to deal with riots and disorder, a minister said earlier.
Starmer has given police his “full backing” to take any action necessary to respond to “extremists” attempting to “sow hate” after scenes of disorder in England and Northern Ireland this week.
