• Tommy Robinson has been accused of inciting far-right riots from abroad following the Southport knife attack, after he left the UK last week.
• Robinson is reported to be in Cyprus at present. A new arrest warrant has been issued for him.
On Monday, the High Court was informed that Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had departed the country after being released on unconditional bail following his arrest in Kent the previous weekend. A new arrest warrant was issued for the English Defence League (EDL) founder after he failed to attend a scheduled hearing in a contempt of court case.
Despite his absence, Robinson has been actively posting about the ongoing unrest on social media. The 41-year-old has been providing continuous commentary and videos documenting the riots, characterising the turmoil as stemming from “legitimate concerns” and advocating for “mass deportations.” Campaigners have accused Robinson of significantly contributing to the incitement of violence against ethnic minority groups.
“There is no doubt that Tommy Robinson’s social media is playing a crucial role in these far-right demonstrations,” a spokesperson for Hope Not Hate said. “Since his X account was reinstated last year, Tommy Robinson’s influence has expanded. His recent London demonstrations attracted tens of thousands, and his X following has surpassed 800,000, granting him considerable online reach.”
“Following Monday’s horrific attack, Robinson has been actively tweeting, calling Islam a mental health issue, sharing videos of the disorder, and encouraging participation in future protests. One tweet urged: ‘Get there and show your support. People need to rise up.’ We know he was influential in Tuesday’s Southport disturbances, with rioters chanting his name and derogatory slogans—common at far-right rallies.”
The riots have spread across the UK in response to the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday. Sabby Dhalu, co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism, asserted: “The violence we’re witnessing in Liverpool, Hull, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Southport, and beyond is not merely disorder but racist, Islamophobic, fascist riots, targeting mosques, asylum seekers, and anyone non-white. Tommy Robinson is deliberately inciting racism and Islamophobia while evading justice. The riots are a direct result of his recent mobilisation of 15,000 people in Trafalgar Square. This movement did not emerge in isolation but is a product of politicians exacerbating Islamophobia and racism while worsening socioeconomic conditions. To counter this movement, we must unite against fascism and stand firm against racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism.”
The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) accused Robinson of “fanning the flames of violence” from abroad. “For over 23 years, MAB and other civil society organisations have warned about the rising far-right threat and the dangers of portraying Islam and Muslims as a security threat. Sadly, our warnings have proven accurate,” a spokesperson told The Independent. “Political and socio-economic failures have elevated individuals like Tommy Robinson, a fugitive who exacerbates violence and terror. The ignored warning signs from the 2016 Brexit campaign allowed the far-right to gain influence. The government’s failure to address far-right extremism and its tendency to frame it as ‘legitimate concerns’ has worsened the situation, leading to targeted attacks on mosques, assaults on Muslims and other minorities, and widespread property destruction.”
Robinson’s exact location remains unclear, though photos emerged on Sunday reportedly showing him at a hotel in Cyprus. On the same day, a reporter for Robinson’s platform was forced to leave the scene of violence in Rotherham, where a mob clashed with police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers and started fires. Robinson remarked on X: “It’s not very safe there; tensions are still high. The organisers of the demonstration are extremely disappointed as they wanted a peaceful protest today.”
Police reported eight arrests and three officers hospitalised following the riots in Sunderland city centre last night. Sunderland Central Labour MP Lewis Atkinson suggested a connection between the recent disorder in his constituency and the remnants of the EDL, founded by Robinson. Although the EDL has disbanded, its supporters remain active, and Atkinson noted evidence linking a Nazi offshoot of the group to the violence, which included the burning of a police station and an attack on a local mosque.
Regarding the causes of the disorder, Atkinson explained on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that protests had been proposed on various social media groups following the Southport stabbings. “The far right, including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, capitalised on these suggestions, promoting and encouraging known far-right individuals to participate,” he said. “I can link this to the EDL because a flag at the scene bore the insignia of the North East Infidels, a Nazi offshoot from the EDL’s North East chapter.”
Disorder has affected massive parts of England this week, including London, Manchester, Southport, and Hartlepool, following the tragic murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Merseyside on Monday. Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused of the attack, but false claims online suggested the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat.
An additional 70 prosecutors will be on standby this weekend to address the anticipated surge in violent disorder as authorities prepare for numerous planned demonstrations over the next two days.
