Violence erupted outside a mosque in Southport, UK, on Tuesday night as the town mourned the loss of three young girls: Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9), who were killed in a knife attack on Monday. A vigil for the victims was disrupted by a group expressing far-right views, who had gathered based on false information suggesting the attacker was Muslim. This misinformation sparked violent clashes, resulting in 39 police officers being injured, 27 of whom required hospitalisation. The rioters, believed to be supporters of the English Defence League (EDL), set a police van on fire and targeted officers with bricks and other projectiles.
Who are the EDL? The EDL, founded in 2009, is a far-right, Islamophobic group known for organising street demonstrations against Islam and multiculturalism. Initially emerging from football hooligan firms in Luton, the EDL quickly gained prominence, partly due to the leadership of British anti-Islam campaigner and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon). The group’s rhetoric and actions often target Islam broadly, positioning themselves as opponents of Islamic extremism. The EDL has been linked to various violent acts, both at its events and independently by its members.
Robinson, who led the group until 2013, has a history of legal troubles, including convictions for violent behaviour, contempt of court, and stalking. Despite his departure from the EDL, he continues to influence the far-right landscape in the UK. The group’s membership and influence have waned over the past decade, with many former members migrating to other far-right organisations like National Action and Patriotic Alternative.
What has the political reaction been towards EDL? The recent Southport incident is not the first time the EDL has been associated with violence. Last year, right-wing protesters, including EDL supporters, clashed with police during Armistice Day counter-protests against pro-Palestine marches. During these events, 145 people were arrested. Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the violence, stating, “I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.”
Following the Southport riots, several political leaders called for decisive action against the EDL. UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner suggested that the group could be proscribed as a terrorist organisation, a move that would make membership or support of the group illegal. “We have laws and we have proscribed groups, and we do look at that and it is reviewed regularly,” Rayner said. “But I think the bigger issue is about taking on the minority of people that have got thuggish behaviour—that actually, that’s not our British values.”
UK PM Keir Starmer pointed out the role of social media in spreading misinformation that fueled the violence. He urged social media companies to adhere to laws against incitement of violence, warning that misinformation could jeopardise fair trials and justice for victims and their families. “Let me also say to large social media companies, and those who run them, violent disorder clearly whipped up online: that is also a crime. It’s happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere,” he stated.
Will EDL be banned? The EDL’s decline mirrors that of the British National Party (BNP), which saw significant support in the 2010 UK general election but has since faded into obscurity. Despite this, the EDL still manages to mobilise supporters during incidents involving Muslims or perceived threats to British culture. The group’s ideology includes nationalism, nativism, and populism, with a strong emphasis on anti-immigration sentiments. The EDL distinguishes itself from traditional far-right groups by rejecting biological racism, antisemitism, and homophobia, though it shares the broader far-right’s antagonism towards Muslims. The group’s actions have often drawn widespread condemnation from the public and authorities alike.
The involvement of misinformation, including false claims amplified by figures like Andrew Tate and platforms like UK’s Channel 3 Now, highlights the role of digital media in escalating tensions, reported Reuters. As the investigation into the Southport incident continues, with the 17-year-old suspect Axel Rudakubana facing murder charges, there is a growing call for measures to prevent far-right groups from exploiting tragedies to spread hatred and violence, and to ensure that justice is served without interference from misinformation and conspiracy theories.
