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King Charles lauds ‘resilience’ over ‘aggression’ in riots after criticism he didn't condemn UK unrest sooner
King Charles III on Friday lauded the “resilience” of many that overshadowed the “aggression” and “criminality” of a smaller number of people amid some of the worst unrest in the United Kingdom’s history, Buckingham Palace said.
The king has been criticized for not speaking out sooner against the riots that began after three young girls were killed in a stabbing attack on July 29, in a town near Liverpool and misinformation spread on social media following the murders and an arrest.
The king and the royal family are currently in Scotland for their annual summer holiday.
“The king shared how 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,” the palace said in a statement. “It remains his majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.”
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King Charles III on Friday lauded the “resilience” of many that overshadowed the “aggression” and “criminality” of a smaller number of people amid some of the worst unrest in the United Kingdom’s history, Buckingham Palace said. (Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Charles also gave his “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 palace added, according to BBC News.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said that a “standing army” of specialist police would be set up to deal with rioting and that the justice system would be ramped up to deal with hundreds of arrests after violent disorder rocked cities across the nation over the past week.
“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 on Monday. “The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part.”
Riots and protests involving hundreds of people have created chaos in towns and cities across the country, with dozens of police officers hospitalized after being struck with bricks, bottles, chairs and large wooden posts.
Riot police officers push back protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel which is housing asylum seekers last week in Rotherham, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
False social media posts claimed that the suspected attacker was a radical Islamist who had recently arrived in Britain. Police, however, 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.
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Earlier this week, Kate Williams, a professor of public engagement with history at Reading University told Times Radio: “This would be a moment for the King to talk about multiculturalism, the Commonwealth, people coming together, and I think that if I were advising him I would suggest making that statement sooner [rather] than later.”
She added, “We are in crisis times… this is an outbreak of violence that’s getting worse, it’s not abating. And we are seeing that people are terrified. There are cities tonight that are going to be gripped by this racist violence, by this anti-Islamic violence. It’s just terrible, and I think this is the moment where the monarchy does need to come out and say something.”
Rioters hold an ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Sunderland, England, last week. (Drik/Getty Images)
The king previously released a message on social media saying he and Queen Camilla were “profoundly shocked” over the murders.
“We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those you have so tragically lost their lives and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack.”
Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who were all between 6 and 9 years old, were murdered in the attack while attending a dance class in Southport, 17 miles north of Liverpool. Ten others were seriously injured.
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.
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Officials on Monday revealed new details about a series of arson attacks targeting properties connected to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alleging the suspects were recruited and directed by a Russian-speaking handler.
According to police and court reporting, the suspects were promised payment to carry out a coordinated campaign in London in May 2025, including attacks involving a vehicle and two properties linked to Starmer.
A new investigation reported that the handler is believed to be a diplomat trained in information warfare and part of a broader Russian sabotage and disinformation operation directed from Moscow, according to the Kyiv Post.
Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted in connection with the arson plot after Lavrynovych was recruited by a Russian-speaking Telegram handler known as “El Money,” according to police and court reporting. Kyiv Post reported that Carpiuc was also born in Ukraine. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a meeting on Feb. 24, 2026. (Kin Cheung / POOL / AFP via Getty Images))
According to police, Lavrynovych was recruited through Telegram by a Russian-speaking handler saved in his phone contacts as “El Money,” who allegedly directed him through a series of increasingly serious tasks while promising payment in return.
“Look, you attacked the home of a very high-ranking person in Britain. I’ll send you the money you need to leave the city,” the handler allegedly wrote in one message cited by investigators, according to Kyiv Post.
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Officials arrest a Ukrainian man who was later found guilty of setting on fire houses linked to U.K. Prime Minister Starmer. (Metropolitan Police)
The handler reportedly offered Lavrynovych Russian citizenship in exchange for carrying out the attacks and frequently voiced support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the outlet. Evidence also suggested that “El Money” was trained in information warfare by propagandists and intelligence operatives, the outlet said.
Investigators added that Russian operatives allegedly coordinated the campaign remotely through social media platforms and Telegram, using fake far-right and Muslim online communities to sow division and fear in the U.K., Kyiv Post said.
The Russian Embassy has reportedly denied any involvement, rejecting “any attempt to associate Russia or its foreign ministry with unlawful activities,” according to the report.
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Police officers stand outside Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s private home, after it was damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack in north London, Britain, May 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)
According to officials, the three arson attacks occurred over a five-day period in May 2025.
The first attack took place on May 8, when a Toyota vehicle formerly owned by Starmer was set ablaze.
A second fire was set on May 11 at the entrance of a residential property that was managed by a company in which Starmer had previously served as a director and shareholder.
The third attack occurred on May 12 at a house that is owned by the prime minister.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video conference meeting outside Moscow on April 7, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
“The actions of the two men involved in these arson attacks were incredibly reckless, and it was sheer luck that nobody was killed or injured,” Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement.
Police said Lavrynovych was arrested on May 13 last year after detectives linked the suspect to the attacks through CCTV footage and phone records indicating he had conducted reconnaissance ahead of the fires.
Authorities said Carpiuc was arrested on May 17 in the departure lounge at Luton Airport moments before boarding a flight to Romania.
Updated:
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