British Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Arson in Anti-Muslim Riot

Thomas Barley, a 27-year-old British man, received a nine-year prison sentence for arson at a hotel housing asylum seekers. Barley's actions, driven by racist motives, endangered lives and stemmed from social media misinformation. The riots led to extensive violence, numerous arrests, and heightened anti-Muslim sentiment.

Thomas Barley, a 27-year-old British man, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for arson at a hotel accommodating asylum seekers. This is the harshest penalty given in connection to recent anti-Muslim riots.

Barley admitted to setting an industrial bin on fire and placing it in front of the hotel's fire door on August 4, near Rotterdam in northern England. Prosecutor Elisha Kay revealed that Barley exacerbated the flames, placing hotel staff and guests in grave danger as they sought refuge in a panic room.

Sheffield Crown Court Judge Jeremy Richardson condemned Barley's actions as racially motivated and influenced by harmful social media posts. The riots, which initially grew out of misinformation linking an Islamist migrant to the killing of three young girls in Southport, spread nationwide, resulting in over 1,300 arrests and multiple convictions.

(With inputs from agencies.)