King Charles III has expressed his support for the people of the United Kingdom following violent riots that have plagued the country in recent days. The King acknowledged the "aggression" and "criminality" of a few, but praised the "resilience" of the many who have countered the violence with compassion and community spirit.
King Charles III has spoken out about the ongoing riots in the United Kingdom, expressing his support for the people affected by the violence and praising the resilience and community spirit shown by many.
The King issued a statement through Buckingham Palace, saying that he had been "greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many."
King Charles III Lauds Resilience Amidst UK Riots, Vows Support for Police and Emergency Services
The statement also expressed the King's "heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services for all they are doing to restore peace in those areas that have been affected by violent disorder."
The King's statement comes amid some of the worst unrest in the United Kingdom's history, with riots and protests involving hundreds of people creating chaos in towns and cities across the country. Dozens of police officers have been hospitalized after being struck with bricks, bottles, chairs, and large wooden posts.
King Charles III Lauds Resilience Amidst UK Riots, Vows Support for Police and Emergency Services
The violence began after three young girls were killed in a stabbing attack on July 29 in a town near Liverpool. False social media posts claimed that the suspected attacker was a radical Islamist who had recently arrived in Britain. However, police identified the attacker as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents, and said authorities are not treating the incident as terror-related.
In response to the riots, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to set up a "standing army" of specialist police to deal with rioting and ramp up the justice system to deal with the hundreds of arrests that have been made.
King Charles III Lauds Resilience Amidst UK Riots, Vows Support for Police and Emergency Services
"Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest, it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities," Starmer said. "The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part."
The riots have sparked widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with many calling for an end to the violence and a focus on addressing the underlying causes of the unrest.
King Charles III Lauds Resilience Amidst UK Riots, Vows Support for Police and Emergency Services
The National Police Chiefs' Council said some 741 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, including 304 who have been charged with criminal offenses.
Fox News' Stephen Sorace, the Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
