Robinson, 41, who tried to keep his location secret, has not disclosed his whereabouts in the series of videos he shared with his 800,000 followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. Meanwhile, his supporters have been involved in recent riots across the UK.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Robinson has been staying at a five-star all-inclusive resort near Ayia Napa, Cyprus, where he has blended in with other holidaymakers, many of whom are unaware of his true identity. Robinson was seen enjoying his stay at a luxury hotel, engaging in activities like having dinner and working out, while also staying active on social media, where he criticized media coverage and government officials.
On July 27, 2024, he led a major rally marked by nationalist rhetoric, raising concerns about potential violence and public disorder. He fled the UK after allegedly committing contempt of court by screening a film at a protest that repeated false claims he made about a Syrian refugee. Despite a court order to appear, Robinson left the country, seemingly to avoid legal consequences. From an undisclosed location, he has continued to release statements and videos on social media, urging his supporters to continue their protests and claiming they are on the “verge of something massive.”
What caused it?
The unrest is the worst in England has seen in over a decade, highlighting growing racial and religious tensions in the country. The violence is the worst England has seen since the summer of 2011, when widespread rioting took place following the police killing of a mixed-race man in north London.
The violence follows a mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport, which left three girls dead. False rumours about the attacker’s background have fuelled anti-immigrant sentiment, leading to a series of violent protests. The unrest is primarily driven by misinformation spread online, falsely claiming that the suspect in the Southport stabbing, Axel Rudakubana, was an asylum seeker and a radical Islamist. In reality, Rudakubana, 17, is a British-born citizen of Rwandan descent, and the incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack.
These events have escalated in the wake of a stabbing rampage at a children’s dance class that left three girls dead. The unrest, fuelled by misinformation and anti-immigrant sentiment, has seen rioters clashing with police, targeting hotels housing asylum seekers, and causing widespread damage in various towns and cities.
The violence has been particularly intense in Rotherham and Middlesbrough, where protesters have broken windows, started fires, and attacked police officers. The situation presents a significant challenge for Starmer’s new government, which is committed to addressing the violence swiftly and ensuring justice is served.
Where are the riots taking place?
Protests and riots have spread from Southport to various towns and cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, and Hull. These disturbances have led to clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and the police, with numerous incidents of vandalism, looting, and assaults
In Rotherham, a town in South Yorkshire, the violence was particularly intense. Rioters attempted to storm a Holiday Inn Express being used as accommodation for asylum seekers. Police officers, equipped with shields, faced a barrage of missiles, including bits of wood, chairs, and fire extinguishers. A large bin was set alight near a hotel window, but the fire was quickly extinguished. At least ten officers were injured during the unrest, including one who was knocked unconscious. Assistant Chief Constable Butterfield condemned the violence and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
In Middlesbrough, tensions escalated as protesters broke through a police cordon, smashing windows of houses and cars. Some protesters justified their actions by saying, “Because we’re English.” Hundreds of others confronted police at the town’s cenotaph, throwing bricks, cans, and pots at officers.
Who said what?
“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves. This is not a protest; it is organized, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.”
Keir Starmer, UK PM
“The behaviour we witnessed has been nothing short of disgusting. While it was a smaller number of those in attendance who chose to commit violence and destruction, those who simply stood on and watched remain absolutely complicit in this. We have officers working hard, reviewing the considerable online imagery and footage of those involved, and they should expect us to be at their doors very soon.”
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield
“Ever since the soft policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread. The Prime Minister’s faltering attempts to address the current crisis have only added to that sense of injustice. The majority of our population can see the fracturing of our communities as a result of mass, uncontrolled immigration, whether legal or illegal. Yet to attempt to debate this in the public arena leads to immediate howls of condemnation. A population explosion without integration was always going to end badly. I have said this for many years"
Nigel Farage, MP
The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport.This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society.The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full weight of the law.
Former British PM Rishi Sunak
What’s the latest?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene an emergency meeting with police chiefs on Monday following a surge in violent anti-immigration protests, where buildings and vehicles have been torched and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted. The unrest, sparked by the stabbing deaths of three girls in Southport, has led to 420 arrests, with riots erupting in towns and cities across the UK.
Misinformation online falsely claimed the attacker was a radical Islamist recently arrived in Britain, fueling the violence. Police confirmed the suspect was British-born and are not treating the incident as terrorism. Interior Minister Yvette Cooper stated that rioters have been “emboldened” to incite racial hatred, with attacks on police, looting, and assaults on mosques and Asian-owned businesses.
Over the weekend, riots broke out in Liverpool, Bristol, Tamworth, Middlesbrough, and Belfast, with protesters—mainly young men in balaclavas and British flags—hurling rocks and shouting anti-immigration slogans like “Stop the Boats.” In Rotherham, protesters attempted to break into a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Online disinformation
Police have attributed the violence to online disinformation, spread by high-profile figures like Tommy Robinson, who has been accused of inciting his 875,000 followers on X. Robinson claimed that authorities were trying to turn the nation against him and urged his supporters to be his voice.
Elon Musk, owner of X, also commented on the unrest, suggesting that “civil war is inevitable” in response to posts blaming mass migration for the disorder.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper highlighted that online networks had amplified tensions, and the government plans to address the issue with social media companies. She stressed that while people may have concerns about immigration, the violence was driven by extremist, racist groups, not reasonable debate. “Reasonable people who have those views do not pick up bricks and throw them at the police,” Cooper said.