TWO consecutive nights of violent protests in English towns have highlighted how today’s far-right factions are mobilising within the UK. The unrest follows a knife attack by Cardiff-born teenager in Southport, which has sparked significant activity both on mainstream social media and within smaller public groups.

An analysis of this activity reveals a clear pattern: influencers are driving the call for protests, yet there is no single organising entity. Many protest attendees and online commentators do not hold extremist views or support rioting, nor do they have direct ties to far-right groups. Concerns about violent crime and misinformation linking the attack to illegal immigration have drawn in a diverse array of people.

The initial protests began in Southport and rapidly spread to London, Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot. Merseyside Police have identified the English Defence League (EDL) as a significant influence in these events. Although the EDL no longer exists in a formal sense following the departure of its founder, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson), its core ideas—particularly opposition to illegal immigration and racist claims about Muslims—persist and are actively propagated online.

Conspiracy theories suggesting that “elites” are concealing the truth, including alleged abuses of British children, have further fuelled the unrest. “Lord Simon,” an influencer associated with Yaxley-Lennon, was among the first to call for nationwide protests, spreading false claims that the alleged Southport attacker was a recently arrived asylum seeker. His video has been viewed over a million times.

The BBC’s analysis of hundreds of social media posts and Telegram groups has shed light on the motives of those organising and participating in the protests. While it is challenging to pinpoint who initiated the protest calls, a clear pattern emerged: multiple influencers within various circles amplified false claims about the attacker’s identity, which then spread across platforms, reaching a broad audience.

“There’s not been a single driving force,” says Joe Mulhall, head of research at Hope Not Hate, an anti-racism research group. “There are large numbers of people engaging in activity online but there’s no membership structure or badge—there are not even formalised leaders, but they are directed by social media influencers. It’s like a school of fish rather than a traditional organisation.”

One of the earliest signs of brewing protests appeared in a Southport-themed group on Telegram, created about six hours after the attack. Telegram, often used by far-right activists to avoid bans on other platforms, became flooded with misinformation about the attacker’s identity and calls for a protest on St Luke’s Street in Southport, home to the local mosque.

Graphics promoting the protest migrated from Telegram to TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, where they gained significant traction. Messages encouraging demonstrators to hide their identities from the police also circulated widely.

Far-right activists saw an opportunity in the Southport tragedy to amplify their messages on major social media platforms. Matthew Hankinson, a former National Action member, documented the Southport demonstration live on X, describing police actions as “oppression of peaceful protesters.” His videos, viewed thousands of times, have been used to justify extreme violence and spread racist material.

Yaxley-Lennon, who left the UK on Sunday ahead of a major court hearing, has been pivotal in spreading unrest. His X account, restored last year, boasts 800,000 followers. His posts about the Southport tragedy and related disorder have been widely shared.

Prominent supporters like Rikki Doolan and Jesse Clarke have been identified in video footage of the Southport protests, furthering the unrest. Smaller groups, including Patriotic Alternative, have also promoted the protests, using the slogan “Enough is Enough,” which has gained significant attention on X.

According to Mulhall, the language and organisation of these protests are highly organic, with local Facebook groups playing a crucial role in disseminating information from influencers.

The future remains uncertain, with at least 30 additional demonstrations planned across the UK. Some social media posts directly reference the Southport attack, while others focus on broader fears of illegal migration and child protection.

The recent protests underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of far-right mobilisation in the UK. As authorities continue to monitor the situation, the interplay between online influence and on-the-ground action presents a significant challenge for maintaining public order and addressing misinformation.