ANTI-RIOT COP 'ARMY'

Specialist officers to combat mob rule | Musk under fire for civil war claim

- LIZZY BUCHAN and ASHLEY COWBURN

AN "army" of specialist police officers will be put on alert to tackle rioters, Keir Starmer said after a Cobra meeting about the violence.

More than 400 people have so far been arrested after thugs stormed hotels housing asylum seekers, looted shops and attacked police.

Mr Starmer vowed to "ramp up criminal justice" to punish, name and shame those responsible.

And he promised that agitators whipping up hate online would also feel the "full force of the law".

The Prime Minister said: "We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them." He had asked for "the earliest naming" of those responsible for the violence, who would "feel the full force of the law".

Mr Starmer also issued a warning to those using social media. He said: "I have been clear that the criminal law applies online as well as offline."