The United Kingdom’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, has threatened to extradite overseas social media users who have supported or spoken out on the anti-mass migration protests and riots gripping the country. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised draconian action against those protesting against the deadly stabbing of multiple young girls by a migration-background teenager in Southport, England last week.
Parkinson said that overseas social media posters should be aware that “they are not safe and there is nowhere to hide.”
He emphasized that those involved in the violence could face the harshest criminal charges, including terrorism.
Of the 400 people arrested during the week of disorder, around 100 have been charged so far.
Anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson, who is currently in Cyprus, may be one of the targets of prosecutors. England’s High Court has issued a warrant for his arrest after he missed a court appearance last Monday, on unrelated contempt of court charges.
Parkinson stated, “Some people are abroad. That doesn’t mean they’re safe,” and noted that the British government has liaison prosecutors worldwide who can collaborate with international partners on extradition requests.
Parkinson also highlighted that suspects charged with violent disorder could face up to five years behind bars, and those charged with rioting could face up to ten years.
Parkinson stated that prosecutors will also pursue terrorism charges against people allegedly “planning activity for the purposes of advancing [an] ideology … planning really, really serious disruption.”
X owner and tech billionaire Elon Musk has also strongly criticized Prime Minister Starmer for two-tier policing of anti-mass migration demonstrators and Muslim counter-demonstrators, branding him “#TwoTierKier.”
It remains unclear whether the British government will try to extradite Musk for his posts or for allowing support for the anti-mass migration protests on X.
The United States and the United Kingdom have an extradition treaty signed in 2003 that lists terrorism as an offense for extradition.