Council leaders condemn riots in Tamworth
Local council leaders in Tamworth and Staffordshire have condemned the violence seen at a riot at the town's Holiday Inn.
Council leaders have condemned the riots that took place in Tamworth last night.
Crowds gathered at the Holiday Inn, where petrol bombs, bricks, and fireworks were thrown.
The leader of Tamworth Borough Council, councillor Carol Dean, and its chief executive Stephen Gabriel have issued a joint statement condemning Sunday's violent.
Their statement said: "The outbreak of violence and criminal damage is totally unacceptable.
"We will do everything in our power to support the authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to account for their actions.
"Everyone has a right to express their views, that must be done, peacefully and responsibly.
"While we understand and respect the right of citizens to express their concerns and opinions, we cannot and will not support actions that resort to violence, intimidations and disorder.
"These events are not a reflection of our town and its community."
Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council also condemned the violence: “The targeted attack on the hotel housing asylum seekers in Tamworth and on police attending the scene, is both shameful and deplorable.
“Violence of this kind has no place in this county or this country and will be rightly condemned by the vast majority.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for their response yesterday and I am pleased that the rioters were dispersed and peace was restored to the community.
“I would encourage people to remain calm today to allow the police to bring these criminals to justice.”
The prime minister is holding an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street today. Misinformation being shared online, which has fuelled days of unrest, is being addressed.
Anyone whipping up violence online could face prison, Downing Street has said.
In a read-out of Monday morning's emergency Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The police, Home Office, DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) and NCA (National Crime Agency) are working to tackle criminality online, to ensure people are prosecuted for online criminal activity. And they are working to tackle misinformation and bot activity."
The official continued: "I should be very clear that anyone who stokes this violence, whether on the internet or in person, can be prosecuted and face prison."