Summary
The director of public prosecutions in England and Wales says he is "willing" to consider charging some rioters with terrorism offences
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer insists communities "will be safe", after he chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on efforts to tackle the unrest
Suspects have been appearing in court after a week of violence in the UK, with 100 people charged and more than 400 arrested
In Belfast, a man in his 50s is in a serious condition in hospital after what police are treating as a racially motivated hate attack
The disorder follows the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport – subsequent unrest has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far right and anti-immigration sentiment
Live Reporting
Edited by Jamie Whitehead and Aoife Walsh
Almost 400 arrests linked to violent disorder – police chiefspublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 5 August
16:33 BST 5 AugustBreaking
We've just had an update from the National Police Chiefs' Council, which says so far 378 arrests have been made over the past week in relation to the unrest.
The body's chair, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, says he expects that figure to rise each day as "forces continue to identify those involved and continue to apprehend those responsible".
He says work is "going on around the clock to do this".
In a statement, he adds: “I want to reassure the public that a united and robust policing response is in place across the country and we are doing all we can to tackle this disorder and keep you safe.
“All forces have been requested not only to increase the number of specialist resources in their local area, but to contribute to regional reserves, coordinated nationally."
Plymouth council advises people to avoid city centrepublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 5 August
16:12 BST 5 August
Plymouth City Council is advising residents to stay away from the city centre due to concerns over planned demonstrations.
The central library and a multi-storey car park in the city centre will close early, the council says, with extra CCTV in operation and some buses rerouted.
Devon and Cornwall Police say it's increasing its presence in the city centre and is "fully prepared to respond to incidents of disorder".
People should consider staying away from the area "to ensure your safety", the city council adds.
Watch: Inside the Rotherham hotel rioters attackedpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 5 August
16:08 BST 5 August
On Sunday night, rioters descended on a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which has housed asylum seekers.
The BBC's Jessica Lane visited the premises to see the scale of the damage:
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When will the disorder end?published at 15:50 British Summer Time 5 August
15:50 BST 5 August
Daniel Sandford
Home Affairs correspondentThere's no doubt that there was already a simmering anger in some communities aboutmigrants crossing the Channel in small boats and being accommodated in hotels.
There's also no doubt that anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim agitators likeStephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known an Tommy Robinson, had poisoned the well ofopinion in some areas with a mixture of propaganda and misinformation.
Butthere's also no doubt that the terrible events of Monday last week – inwhich three young girls were killed, and others seriously injured – did proveto be the trigger.
That started first of all with violence in Southport on Tuesday night andspread to this weekend with more violence, particularly at accommodationhousing asylum seekers.
What'snot clear yet is how easy it's going to be to stop further scenes of violencein the coming days. Trying to deal with the root of the anger is going to bequite difficult.
While I think everyone is hoping that the violence is going to stop, no one isquite sure that it's going to.
No justification for Musk's 'civil war' comment – No 10published at 15:38 British Summer Time 5 August
15:38 BST 5 August
Image source, ReutersDowning Street has pushed back on comments from Elon Musk, in which he claimed "civil war is inevitable" following unrest in several UK cities over the weekend.
His comment was in response to a post on X blaming the riots on "the effects of mass migration and open borders".
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson says "there's no justification for comments like that".
"What we've seen in this country is organised violent thuggery that has no place either on our streets, or online," the spokesperson adds.
"We're talking about a minority of thugs that do not speak for Britain."
Watch: Met chief appears to grab journalist's microphonepublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 5 August
15:25 BST 5 August
Here's a clip from earlier – when Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley was leaving the government's emergency Cobra meeting.
The Met Police say Rowley was "in a hurry" to return to work when he appeared to grab a Sky journalist's microphone and drop it on the ground outside the cabinet office in Whitehall.
He'd just been asked whether forces are "going to end two-tier policing" – which is where some protests are considered to be dealt with more harshly than others.
Disorder suspects begin to appear in courtpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 5 August
15:09 BST 5 August
Eleanor Lawrie
Social Affairs reporterDefendants have started to appear in court today in relation to the riots that have shaken the country.
They include Adam Wharton, 28, who pleaded guilty to burgling the Spellow Hub community centre in Liverpool.
Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk said Wharton was found wearing a balaclava and “profusely sweating”.
Wharton was warned there is a "real possibility" he could face a jail sentence when he is sentenced on 29 August.
Meanwhile, Josh Kellett, 29, admitted violent disorder following the unrest in Sunderland on Friday.
The court heard he was wearing a balaclava but was identified by his "distinctive tattoos".
Hundreds of arrests have been made in relation to violent disorder over the past week, and while charges are coming in dribs and drabs, courts appear to be responding relatively swiftly.
Australia advises citizens to 'exercise high degree of caution' in UKpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 5 August
14:41 BST 5 August
Australia's government has updated its travel advice for the UK, advising its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution".
"Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence. Monitor the media for information and updates. Follow the instructions of local authorities," it says in its latest advice.
Earlier, Malaysia and Nigeria had become the first countries to issue a UK travel warning in the aftermath of the unrest seen over the weekend. Read more about that in our earlier post here.
'My life is threatened,' says owner of Belfast café attacked in disorderpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 5 August
14:22 BST 5 August
Rebekah Wilson
Reporting from BelfastImage source, Rebekah Wilson / BBCMohammed Idris, the owner of Bash café in Belfast, says he's closing down after it was burnt out during the disorder over the weekend.
He says he feels his life is threatened after the attack on his business.
"It's not easy to stay here – more for my life, my safety, I can't try over and over again with the same result", says Idris.
During Saturday’s unrest, Idris says a group of people shouted his name and smashed the windows of his café before setting it alight.
“For me it’s not easy – it is so difficult when they know your name. It’s scary, my life is threatened. A group of people coming, shouting my name.”
Living in Belfast since 2002, he says the community are “good and kind people. Unfortunately a few people have let us down – but most people are very, very kind".
Image source, Rebekah Wilson / BBCAlliance Party calls for Northern Ireland Assembly to reconvenepublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 5 August
13:52 BST 5 August
Chris Page
Ireland correspondentThe cross-community Alliance Party has asked for a recall ofthe devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland to discuss the violence over theweekend.
The Alliance leader, Justice Minister Naomi Long, said itwas “important politicians speak with one voice to say this isn’t acceptable”.
At a news conference, Long said she was “distraught” byattacks on businesses: “We have people in Belfast today who are afraidto go out of their homes because of the colour of their skin, their religion,their perceived background.”
Thirty out of the 90 elected members need to sign a“recall petition” in order for the Assembly to hold a special sitting.
Long defended the police against criticism of theirresponse, pointing out there were “operational challenges” in dealing with thesort of disorder which happened on Saturday. But she pledged that “if there are lessons to be learned,they will be learned”.
Watch: Starmer discusses outcome of emergency Cobra meetingpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 5 August
13:38 BST 5 August
Communities come together as PM promises an army of specialist officerspublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 5 August
13:29 BST 5 August
Sam Hanco*ck
Live page editorWe've just heard from the prime minister, who says it's been agreed by ministers and police chiefs to deploy - what he called - a "standing army" of specialist officers to tackle the unrest that's taken place in the UK since a stabbing attack last week left three children dead.
He didn't explain exactly what that meant but condemned the disorder, saying it is "not protest, it is violence". He also said his government will ensure everyone involved is brought to justice.
Earlier, South Yorkshire Police said 12 members of the force were injured over the weekend and officers are working tirelessly to identify anyone who's been involved in the unrest. "We will find you" is how Asst Ch Const Lindsey Butterfield put it. Merseyside Police said 23 of its officers were also injured over the weekend, having been hit with various objects.
In the places where these latest protests were held, residents are cleaning up the debris and voicing their opinions. Meanwhile, we're continuing to bring you the latest news lines and reaction - stay with us.
Starmer rejects accusations of two-tier policingpublished at 13:05 British Summer Time 5 August
13:05 BST 5 August
On whether he's planning to recall Parliament, the prime minister says his priority is making sure the streets are safe for everyone.
Starmer also rejects claims of "two-tier policing", where right-wing protests are considered to be dealt with more harshly than left-wing ones, and says there is only "policing without fear or favour".
"The focus here is not on the apparent motivation," he adds, before thanking reporters and heading off.
'This is not protest, it is violence'published at 13:02 British Summer Time 5 August
13:02 BST 5 August
Asked whether the UK has enough courts and prison cells to process convictions from the ongoing unrest, Starmer says he's "appalled" the government has been put in "this position".
"But we will make this work," he says, confirming that there will be enough space and that those engaged in violent activity "will feel the full force of the law".
"This is not protest," he says, "it is violence."
Standing army of police officers will respond to violence - prime ministerpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 5 August
13:00 BST 5 AugustBreaking
Image source, PoolWe've just been hearing from Keir Starmer for the first time today - and following an emergency Cobra meeting with ministers and representatives from law enforcement
He says a number of actions were agreed, including having a "standing army" of specialist officers to deal with incidents where needed.
It was also agreed, the prime minister says, that criminal law must apply online as well as offline - and he expects people committing offences on the internet to be treated the same as anyone else.
'Absolutely terrifying' - shaken hotel worker describes fear during riotpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 5 August
12:55 BST 5 August
People who were inside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham when rioters descended on it over the weekend say they had to push fridges and other furniture against a door to create a makeshift barrier.
A shaken hotel worker, who did not want to be identified, describes the experience as "absolutely terrifying".
A man who lives near the hotel says anyone trying to justify the violence is "an absolute joke".
"It is just young hooligans trying to find any excuse to cause trouble," the man said. "There’s no reason for them to be here, they’re just a waste of life, waste of fresh air."
About 240 asylum seekers who had been staying at the hotelwere moved overnight after clashes between police and a crowd of hundreds of people.
- Read more on this here
Image source, PA MediaClean-up operation under waypublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 5 August
12:37 BST 5 August
Locals have taken to the streets of towns and cities where violent protests broke out over the weekend, to clear up the mess that's been left behind.
Earlier, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was these people who "speak for Britain" - not those who partook in the unrest.
Here are some of the images we're seeing:
Image source, PAImage source, PAMalaysia and Nigeria issue UK travel warningpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 5 August
12:26 BST 5 August
Following a weekend of unrest, Malaysia and Nigeria have become the first countries to issue a UK travel warning.
Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an alert on Sunday advising Malaysians living in or visiting the UK to "stay away" from protest areas and "remain vigilant".
A similar warning was issued by the Nigerian Interior Ministry this morning, citing an "increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK".
Many countries around the world, including the US, Germany and Denmark, issued travel advice to their citizens following riots in England in summer 2011.
'There's massive fear in the Muslim community'published at 11:57 British Summer Time 5 August
11:57 BST 5 August
NajabatRamzan from the Jamia Masjid Al-Madina Mosque, in Middlesbrough, says some Muslims are scared to go out following the violent protests at the weekend.
Cars were set alight, missiles were thrown at police, and houses and cars had their windows smashed in the town on Sunday afternoon. Mosques were attacked and Islamophobic slurs were also heard at some of the protests.
Ramzan tells our colleagues on the BBC News channel that elderly people are now scared to go to the mosque to pray, and women who wear the hijab are fearful about going out in case they're targeted.
“It’s a few mindless thugs that are causing it but hopefully it won’t last long and they will be dealt by the law appropriately," he adds.
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Watch: Police vow to find all those involved in unrestpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 5 August
11:54 BST 5 August
A little earlier, we brought you some key lines from a news conference given by South Yorkshire Police's Asst Ch Const Lindsey Butterfield.
During it, she said officers were working around the clock to identify people involved in the unrest.
Here's what Butterfield had to say:
