Britain is on alert for further unrest even after anti-racism campaigners faced down the far right

LONDON (AP) — British authorities said Thursday they were preparing for the possibility of further unrest, even as they applauded the efforts of anti-racism campaigners and police officers who largely stifled a threatened wave of far-right demonstrations overnight.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer sounded the note of caution after a week of anti-immigrant violence that has scarred communities from Northern Ireland to the south coast of England. Starmer spoke to reporters at a mosque in Solihull, near Birmingham, where demonstrators shut down a shopping center on Sunday.

“It’s important that we don’t let up here,” Starmer said.

At an emergency meeting with law enforcement officers at his office, Starmer said on Thursday evening that police need to remain on “high alert,” Britain’s Press Association reported. He credited strategic police staffing and swift justice for rioters in the courts for creating a deterrent that kept trouble at a minimum the night before.

Police across the United Kingdom had braced for widespread disorder on Wednesday, after far-right activists circulated a list of more than 100 sites they planned to target, including the offices of immigration lawyers and others offering services to migrants.

But those demonstrations failed to materialize as police and counter-protesters filled the streets.

Carrying signs saying “Refugees Welcome” and chanting “Whose streets? Our streets,” people turned out in force to protect asylum service centers and the offices of immigration attorneys.

The government also declared a national critical incident, putting 6,000 specially trained police on standby to respond to any disorder. Police said that protests and counter-protests were largely peaceful, though a small number of arrests were made.

“The show of force from the police and, frankly, the show of unity from communities together defeated the challenges that we faced,” said Commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of London’s Metropolitan Police Service. “It went off very peacefully last night, and the fears of extreme right disorder were abated.”

But tensions remain high after right-wing agitators fueled the violence by circulating misinformation about the identity of the suspect in a knife attack that killed three young girls in the English seaside town of Southport last week. The last child hospitalized in the July 29 stabbing has been released, police said Thursday.

Nearly 500 people have been arrested around the country after anti-immigrant mobs clashed with police, attacked mosques and overran two hotels housing asylum-seekers. Among them was a man in his 50s, arrested on suspicion of “encouraging murder.” The arrest came after a local Labour councilor allegedly called for far-right protesters’ throats to be “cut.''

The Labour Party suspended Ricky Jones, who is alleged to have made the remark at a London demonstration Wednesday.

The government has pledged to track down and prosecute those responsible for the disorder, including people who incite violence online.

In an effort to dissuade people from taking part in future unrest by showing that rioters will face swift justice, TV cameras were allowed into Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday as Judge Andrew Menary sentenced two men to 32 months in prison.

During the hearing, prosecutors played video of rioters pelting police with bricks and setting garbage cans on fire. One of the suspects was in the middle of a group that ripped the bumper off a police vehicle and threw it at officers as onlookers cheered.

“It seems to me there were hundreds of people observing, as if this was some sort of Tuesday night entertainment,” Menary said. “All of them should be frankly ashamed of themselves.”

Northern Ireland’s regional legislative assembly convened Thursday to respond to the unrest. Minister for Justice Naomi Long said the violence and racist attacks in recent days were “not reflective” of the people of Northern Ireland.

“We need to call it for what it is. It is racism, it is Islamophobia, it is xenophobia,″ she said. “If we’re going to deal with it, we need to name it for what it is, and we need to challenge it.″

The government is also considering imposing sanctions other than jail time, including banning rioters from soccer matches. Home Office minister Diana Johnson told LBC Radio that there should be consequences for those implicated in disorder.

“I think all options are being looked at, to be honest, and I am pretty clear that most football clubs do not want to be seen to have football hooligans and people carrying out criminal acts on the streets of the local communities in their stands on a Saturday,″ she said.

Associated Press writer Brian Melley contributed to this report.

Counter protestors gather in Walthamstow, London, Wednesday Aug. 7, 2024, ahead of anti-immigration groups planning to target dozens of locations throughout the country following a week of rioting fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls. (PA via AP)

Counter protesters gather in Liverpool, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 ahead of anti-immigration groups planning to target dozens of locations throughout the country following a week of rioting fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A counter protester stands in front of police in Liverpool, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 ahead of anti-immigration groups planning to target dozens of locations throughout the country following a week of rioting fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

People gather to protest against a planned far-right anti-immigration protest in Walthamstow, London, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 .(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Counter protesters gather in Liverpool, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 ahead of anti-immigration groups planning to target dozens of locations throughout the country following a week of rioting fueled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

General view of people gathering to protest against a planned far-right anti-immigration protest in Walthamstow, London, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 .(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The New England Patriots showed in Week 2 why they are sticking with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback over first-round draft pick Drake Maye.

Not because Brissett is moving the offense with his arm, or even his legs.

But because it’s not yet safe for Maye to line up behind the Patriots’ offensive line.

Brissett was sacked three times and hit a handful of others in the 23-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. One left the caretaker quarterback favoring his shoulder, another twisted his knee.

And the Patriots have invested too much in Maye — the No. 3 overall pick in the draft — to put the former North Carolina star at risk.

“You never want your quarterback to get hit,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “We have to do a better job with our pass (protection) up front, and we have to keep him clean. Because even when he’s not getting hit, or any quarterback, if they’re back there and they feel people around him, it always is going to affect you a little bit.”

Although the Patriots came into the season with low expectations — they were the biggest underdog in the league in Week 1 — Brissett managed the offense well enough to come away with an upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. Mayo crowed that his offensive line had been unfairly maligned.

But the problems the blockers showed in the preseason — Brissett hurt his right shoulder in the finale against Washington — reappeared against the Seahawks.

One key turning point came after Antonio Gibson broke free for a 45-yard run to the Seattle 25 with about seven minutes left and New England holding a 20-17 lead. After two runs that took almost two minutes off the clock, Brissett was sacked for a 9-yard loss, dropping the Patriots from the 21 to the 30.

The 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked, setting the Seahawks up on a short field for the tying field goal that sent the game into overtime.

The defense — especially the run defense — has been solid. The Seahawks managed just 46 yards on 19 carries.

The passing game has been slow to develop over the first two games, with Brissett totaling 30 completions for 270 yards and one touchdown so far this season. He has thrown only one pass downfield, according to Sportradar — the fewest attempts of 20 or more yards in the league. Only the Commanders (0-2), the Panthers (0-6) and the Bears (0-10) also have failed to complete a deep pass.

Tight end Hunter Henry caught eight passes, matching a career high, for a personal-best 109 yards.

After managing the season opener well enough to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, Brissett completed just 15 of 27 passes for 149 yards.

Linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, a defensive captain, left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Center David Andrews missed practice on Monday with a hip injury.

19 – Brissett completed three passes for 19 yards to wide receivers in the game. It’s the eighth time since the merger that Patriots wide receivers have picked up fewer than 20 passing yards in a game. Brissett has two of them, also connecting with wide receivers for just 16 yards in a 16-0 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 2, 2016, the final game of Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension.

The Patriots travel to the Meadowlands to play the Jets on Thursday night.

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New England Patriots place kicker Joey Slye, right, kicks a field goal in front of punter Bryce Baringer, left, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo adjusts his microphone in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, right, celebrates after his touchdown with tight end Hunter Henry, left, in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, left, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, greet one another in the center of the field following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett speaks with reporters following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) is brought down by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, center, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, is brought down by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams, center, in front of Patriots guard Michael Jordan, left, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)