Scotland’s former First Minister, Hamza Yousaf, has formally urged the British Home Secretary to classify the English Defence League (EDL) as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. In his letter, made public on Wednesday, Yousaf described the EDL as “far-right bigots” who have exploited national tragedies, such as the recent Southport stabbing, for their “nefarious purposes” of spreading violence, hatred, and Islamophobia (Jurist).
The call for this designation comes in the wake of violent riots that erupted after a peaceful vigil for the Southport stabbing victims was disrupted by white supremacist groups. Witnesses in Merseyside reported that gangs of young men targeted a local mosque, leading to a terrifying situation where the police had to intervene, suffering injuries to protect the mosque from potential arson (The Standard).
The tragic events in Merseyside occurred when a man disguised with a COVID mask attacked a children’s dance recital, resulting in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to several others. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murders and multiple counts of attempted murder (BBC).
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has condemned the riots associated with the EDL, describing them as symptomatic of “thuggish” behaviour that is intolerable in a democratic society. While acknowledging the right to protest, Rayner emphasized that inciting violence has no place in long-established democratic traditions (The Independent).
Despite officially disbanding in 2013, the EDL continues to be active in an unofficial capacity. Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson has remained a controversial figure and was recently arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 prior to leaving the country. A warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.