Rotherham riots: The story so far as number of people charged in connection to hotel attack surpasses 50
Earlier this month, around 700 people attacked the Holiday Inn hotel in Manvers, Rotherham in a far-right attack born out of social media disinformation surrounding the murders of three girls in Southport.
Kier Starmer's new government promised swift justice against the rioters and, as of August 20, 2024 - 16 days after the riot - more than 50 individuals have been charged in connection to the disorder.
The Star's Harry Harrison breaks down the events of the last two and a half weeks outside Sheffield Crown Court.
Kier Starmer's new government promised swift justice against the rioters and, as of August 20, 2024 - 16 days after the riot - more than 50 individuals have been charged in connection to the disorder.
The Star's Harry Harrison breaks down the events of the last two and a half weeks outside Sheffield Crown Court.
Transcript
00:00Earlier this month, nearly 700 people attacked a Holiday Inn hotel in Manvers in Rotherham.
00:07It was a far-right riot targeting the hotel, which was housing over 200 asylum seekers
00:14who had come to the UK seeking a better life and a safer life.
00:20Over 60 police officers, police dogs and horses were injured during the violence, which was
00:28part of disorder across the country, which was born out of far-right disinformational
00:33social media surrounding the murders of three girls in Southport.
00:38The attack on 4 August 2024 was spurred on by far-right voices on social media, such
00:47as the former leader of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson.
00:52The new government headed by Keir Starmer promised swift justice, and as a result, 16
00:59days after the riot, over 50 people have been charged by South Yorkshire police in relation
01:05to the violence we saw outside the hotel.
01:0929 people have been convicted so far for their involvement through guilty pleas, 14 of those
01:16convicted have been sentenced, some of which by South Yorkshire's most senior judge.
01:22So far, two men have been sentenced to three years imprisonment, which is the longest term
01:26handed down in the region for the 14 sentenced so far.
01:31There are still 15 others yet to be sentenced for their involvement, but that will not be
01:37the end of it.
01:39South Yorkshire police have continued to administer a number of appeals with CCTV images to identify
01:45others involved in the violence.
01:47It involves one shared on Tuesday this week by The Star, which contains 28 CCTV images
01:54of men the police would like to identify in connection to the riot.
01:59More people are due to appear before Sheffield's law courts, including Sheffield Crown Court
02:04behind me, over the coming weeks.