Who are the EDL? Far right group believed to be behind Southport riot
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Violent clashes took place outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday night as the town mourns a knife attack that left three young girls dead on Monday. Many of the early EDL members were recruited from Luton football club supporters, Robinson’s home town team. open image in gallery Tommy Robinson marches with supporters in central London Robinson stood down as leader of the EDL in 2013, citing fears over the “dangers of far-right extremism.” The same year, he would publicly apologise to Muslim communities and offer to give evidence to the police to aid their investigation of EDL members. Speaking after the events then-prime minister Rish Sunak said: “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.” Despite a decline over the past decade, EDL members are known to mobilise after certain events to express anti-Islam views, such as the attack in Southport.
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Who are the EDL? Meet the organisation spearheaded by Tommy Robinson ahead of Downing Street protest as activist charged under Terrorism Act
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