UK: Fake claims of a ‘Muslim Defence League’ that fuelled the anti-immigration riots
The killing of three young girls in northwest England on July 29 was falsely attributed to a migrant and sparked a wave of anti-immigration protests across the country. Several far-right accounts stoked tensions by raising concerns about the so-called “Muslim Defence League" – an organisation that doesn't actually exist.
Numerous videos were posted on social media referring to a sinister-sounding group. "Muslim Defence League out in Bolton tonight," said an anti-immigration Facebook account on August 4. The footage shows several dozen men dressed in black, some with their faces covered, marching while chanting "Allahu Akbar" [“God is the greatest” in Arabic].
Other videos published the same day purportedly show the same group of men later attacking anti-immigration protesters or clashing with the police.
Since July 29, when three young girls were murdered by a knife-wielding youth in Southport, the UK has been gripped by a wave of anti-immigration protests and riots. The unrest was fuelled by disinformation online, claiming that the killer was a young Muslim migrant. British police have since revealed that the suspect, now in custody, is a British citizen.
