BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Keir Starmer said he would use "the full force of the law" after a night of racist violence in Belfast that followed a serious stabbing attack.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man is set to appear in court, charged with attempted murder over the knife attack on June 8.
After the incident, violent crowds set fire to homes, a bus, and cars, and people were targeted because of their race.
The U.K. prime minister called the incidents in Belfast "shocking and completely unacceptable".
He said those responsible will face the full force of the law.
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long said that people on social media, who "the day before might not even have known where Belfast is," were spreading fear about the incident. She added that forcing people out of their homes because of the color of their skin could only be described as racism, and those spreading such messages should step back.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the disorder as a "huge act of self-harm by mindless idiots who are only damaging their own futures." He told BBC's Good Morning Ulster that Northern Ireland had always promoted its positive image, but the events of the previous night had seriously harmed that reputation.
Boutcher also said that Northern Ireland is a democracy, and any debate about immigration or other key issues should take place through politicians and elections scheduled for next May. He urged people not to behave in ways that would bring shame to the region.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows said he witnessed the violence on Newtownards Road in East Belfast on June 9. He said that most of those involved were children under 16 with covered faces, who believed it was their duty to set fire to a Glider bus and search for homes linked to immigrants, describing the scenes as terrible.
A Glider bus was burned in East Belfast, leading to all bus and train services being stopped.
Anselme Shima, who lives near Lendrick Street in East Belfast and is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said his three children were "very scared" after the violence.
In Lendrick Street, several cars were set on fire, and fire crews had to rescue some people from burning homes. Houses and vehicles were also burned near Ligoniel Road in Belfast, and a police car was set on fire in Portadown.
Shima, who lives with his wife and three children, said it was a "very frightening moment" for his family.
He said, "It's terrifying. We don't know what to do. I'm scared. When I see this, I wonder if I'm next. If this happens again, will my house be attacked? I don't know."
Posts online from well-known figures, including Elon Musk, who owns the social media platform X, and far-right activist Tommy Robinson, called on people to take to the streets after the stabbing on June 8.
The suspect, who was given five years' permission to stay in the UK after arriving from Ireland, is charged with trying to murder a man locally named as Stephen Ogilvie, carrying a knife in public, and making threats to kill.
He appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on June 10.
Police declared a "critical incident" after the attack, which was caught on video and appears to show a man stabbing the victim in the head and neck while he lay on the ground.
The video shows people, including one holding a hurling stick, stepping in to stop the attacker in the Kinnaird Avenue area near the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.
