Police in Rotherham have released new images of 14 men they wish to speak to in connection with a riot in Rotherham that saw a Holiday Inn Express being used to house asylum seekers stormed by thugs.
South Yorkshire Police says its investigation into the disturbance on August 4, which saw the hotel stormed, its windows smashed and fires set as looters went hunting for immigrants to attack.
At least one guest in the hotel was physically attacked and repeatedly punched until police were able to clear the floor, the Times reported.
Several people have already been convicted in connection with the deeply disturbing incident, which prompted Sir Keir Starmer to label the incident and others like it in the wake of the Southport stabbings ‘far-right thuggery’.
Disturbing videos from the scene showed masked men shouting and threatening to slit asylum seekers’ throats, while other images appeared to show thugs setting fires before blocking emergency exits, terrifying residents and staff.
South Yorkshire Police is hunting suspects in the Rotherham riots that saw thugs attempt to storm a hotel
Hundreds of people were involved in the disturbance, which targeted a hotel housing around 200 asylum seekers
At least one guest in the hotel was physically attacked and repeatedly punched until police were able to clear the floor
A number of convictions have already been secured following earlier appeals by South Yorkshire Police after the August 4 incident
More than 50 police officers were left injured as a result of the riot, which saw windows smashed in and asylum seekers fearing for their lives as the mob, whipped up by far-right rhetoric online, sought to storm the hotel.
Some scrawled aggressive graffiti on its walls, writing ‘scum’ and ‘get out England’ while others set bins alight and hurled them at hotel windows.
Locals labelled those responsible as ‘far-right scumbags’ when interviewed by CNN.
One told the American channel: ‘A couple of days leading up to the event there were social media posts about ‘bringing the violence,’ ‘it’s time to start smashing up the hotel’… It was obvious it was going to happen.’
The riots were stoked as misinformation about the Southport stabbing suspect circulated online – claiming, falsely, that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and giving a fake name.
It was shared by a number of high-profile far right figures online and a Russian-affiliated ‘news’ website.
Combined with long-driven rhetoric that blamed asylum seekers for the problems facing many Brits – from the cost of living to the struggle to find a house – it was the spark that lit a years-old powder keg.
Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old born in Cardiff and living in Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.
He has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
Prosecutors have been swift in acting on rioters who have terrified locals in towns and cities across the country in the wake of the July 29 stabbings, with 460 people having appeared in court over the riots and at least 99 already sentenced.
More than 300 people have appeared in court since last week, according to Ministry of Justice figures.
More than 50 police officers were left injured as a result of the riot, which saw windows smashed in and asylum seekers fearing for their lives
Some of the images in the appeal have been derived from CCTV. Others appear to have been extracted directly from police officers’ bodyworn cameras
South Yorkshire Police has said its investigation continues ‘at pace’. It has vowed to find all of those involved in violent disorder or rioting
Convictions continue to pour in as many of those involved in the widespread disorder made guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity, ensuring sentencing would be swift.
Some, however, have entered not guilty pleas meaning their cases will proceed to a full trial.
Today, a 28-year-old man who threw bricks, stones and wood at police in Hartlepool was jailed for two years and eight months.
Aaron Bradshaw, from the town, was captured on footage a number of times throwing missiles at officers during the disorder on July 31, Cleveland Police said.
The force said he ‘played a significant role’ in the rioting.
A spokesman said: ‘He demonstrated aggressive behaviour and at one point was in possession of a police-style baton – lashing out at the officers to attempt to assault them.
‘Bradshaw grabbed a large wooden plank which he launched towards the officers.’
Bradshaw was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, the force confirmed.
Cleveland Police said three other men were also jailed on Thursday in relation to the violence in Hartlepool on July 31 and Middlesbrough on August 4.
Ben Judge, 28, from Hartlepool, was jailed for three years.
The force said he threw bricks and a metal object at police during the disorder on July 31 and kicked-in a boarded-up window after pulling off the boarding.
Noman Ahmed, 24, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after he was caught on CCTV throwing punches in a crowd of people during the rioting in the town
Jonathan Ambrose, 33, also from Middlesbrough, was identified as throwing missiles at officers during disorder on August 4.
The force said he was also found in possession of class B drugs. Ambrose was jailed for 30 months.
Meanwhile, Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 – all from Plymouth – have been jailed at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following a demonstration in the Devon city on August 5.
Ball and Braidwood were both give prison terms of 32 months, while Gove was jailed for 18 months.
Holly Rust, prosecuting, described how Ball had been ‘aggressive towards officers, swearing at them, squaring up to them and poured a can of drink over them’.
Ms Rust said Braidwood had attended the protest wearing a face covering which he pulled fully over his face when being filmed by police.
She said the protest as a whole had caused widespread disruption to the city, including the theatre having to cancel a performance at a £20,000 loss.
(left to right) Aaron Bradshaw, Ben Judge, Noman Ahmed, and Jonathan Ambrose have been jailed for their parts in the recent widespread disorder
(left to right) Kerry Gove, Andrew Ball and Grant Braidwood have all been jailed after admitting violent disorder
The court heard that Ball has appeared in court previously on 51 occasions for 93 offences including racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress and for public order offences.
Braidwood had been in court previously on 27 occasions for 62 offences including assault and assaulting a police officer and public order offences.
Chris Cuddihee, defending Ball, said that Ball had been drinking during the day and had not intended to take part in the protest and was not racist.
The lawyer, who also represented Braidwood, said that he was a ‘devoted father to four children’ and had autistic spectrum disorder which meant he had ‘tunnel vision and was unable to stop himself’.
In a separate hearing, Ms Rust said that Gove had asked police ‘Are you British?’, had been seen to climb on railings and had pushed and kicked out at a police officer’s shield.
Deni Matthews, defending Gove, said she was of previous good character and added: ‘She expressed her own disgust at what had been said, there was clear expression of disgust at her own behaviour.’
Judge Robert Linford said: ‘This city was blighted by the public disorder that there was, police turned out in force and did what they did with considerable restraint because they kept the two warring factions apart.
‘The effect of the disorder was immense, pubs, shops, restaurants, theatre, even this court building closed early because of what was to come.’
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘We continue to see swift justice being done and more people feeling the full force of the law as a consequence of their actions.
‘It is thanks to the hard work of people around the country and across the justice system that guilty offenders are being held to account.’