Category Archives: English Defence League

Police probe EDL death threat to George Galloway

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Daryl Hobson with Stephen LennonA death threat to George Galloway is being investigated by police in London. Mr Galloway asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate after a threat was posted online by a member of the far-right English Defence League (EDL).

He contacted the police at Streatham near his south London home after a senior EDL member Daryl Hobson [pictured, with EDL leader Stephen Lennon], who has boasted of the group’s links with Norwegian killer Anders Breivik, posted a message reading “Kill George Galloway” on his own Facebook page. Mr Hobson, who organises EDL demonstrations, encouraged others to add comments. One claimed he would kill the controversial former MP.

Mr Galloway said: “This is a clear incitement to murder me and I have passed on, through my lawyer, my complaint to the Metropolitan Police. Hobson admits that the crypto-fascist EDL have had extensive links with Breivik so I would be mad not to take this threat seriously. I have, in the past, been attacked at a meeting by EDL thugs. But they will not silence me or anyone else campaigning against their vile, violent, racist methods.”

Officers from Streatham Police office visited Mr Galloway’s home yesterday and have arranged to interview him today. A Met spokesman confirmed that officers were investigating the internet threat.

The Herald, 28 July 2011

Update:  The EDL have issued a statement. Daryl Hobson is not and never was a senior member of the EDL, Stephen Lennon hasn’t a clue who he is, and he’s now been expelled.

Lennon’s lie exposed (but not by Jeremy Paxman)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Daryl Hobson with Lennon and Carroll

One of the claims made by EDL leader Stephen Lennon (“Tommy Robinson”) in that appalling softball interview by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight was that he knew nothing of Daryl Hobson, the EDL member who had revealed links between the EDL and Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik. Lennon dismissed Hobson as just some “random” member of the EDL’s Facebook page.

Unsurprisingly, given Lennon’s record of lying, it turns out that relations between Daryl Hobson and the EDL leadership were rather closer than that. Here, courtesy of Hope not hate and Expose, are photos of Hobson with both Lennon and EDL co-leader Kevin Carroll.

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EDL supporter: Breivik’s a ‘hero in the war on Islam’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL supporters on Facebook were confused over how to respond to the Norway atrocity.

“How sick are these animals to randomly shoot kids at a summer camp for christ sake,” said the EDL’s Facebook account. But this was before the real killer was known. Before long, there was a reappraisal of the slaughter.

The EDL Jewish Division, on learning that the summer camp had discussed Palestine before the attack, posted “Ah, that explains the man’s actions.” It added, “This exposes the scum for what they are!”

Another supporter, “Michelle Miley”, wrote: “gimme a break. anders is a hero in the war against islam”.

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Norway gunman Anders Breivik’s chilling message to Britain’s far-right

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL anti-Islam placards

Mass killer Anders Breivik told Right-wing extremists in Britain to “keep up the good work” as he plotted his double atrocity in Norway. He was in contact with supporters of the English Defence League days before Friday’s bombing and shooting spree in which 76 people, most of them teenagers, were killed.

Breivik was told he would be welcome at their UK demonstrations, to which he replied: “I hoped so: it’s our common struggle against the islamofascists.” Breivik used an internet pseudonym to communicate with supporters of the EDL and told them: “You’re a blessing to all in Europe.”

His contacts with the EDL, in which he spoke of going to football matches in Bradford, were revealed today by anti-fascist organisation Searchlight. Pressure grew on David Cameron to announce a clampdown on far-Right groups.

Today Searchlight told how Breivik, who posted his messages as “Sigurd Jorsalfare”, a 12th century King of Norway who led one of the Crusades, wrote a series of chilling posts. Only a few days before Friday’s attacks the messages to EDL supporters stopped as he began the final countdown to his massacre.

Searchlight’s editor Nick Lowles: “This proves conclusively Breivik was in contact with the EDL, shared their aims and objectives and expressed a desire to join them on their demonstration. It is quite clear that the Home Office now need to classify the EDL as an extremist Right-wing organisation and to devote similar resources to monitoring their activities as they would other extremist groups.” The EDL has previously said that it has no official contact with Breivik.

In the online messages Breivik wrote: “To you all good English men and women, just wanted to say that you’re a blessing to all in Europe, in these dark times all of Europe are looking to you in search of inspiration, courage and even hope that we might turn this evil trend with Islamisation all across our continent. Well, just wanted to say keep up the good work it’s good to see others that care about their country and heritage.”

In another posting Breivik claims he visited Bradford with a friend “some years ago”. He wrote: “I’ve seen with my own eyes what has happened to england, i was in bradford some years ago, me and a friend walked down to the football stadium of bradford, real ‘nice’ neighborhood, same thing in the suburbs of London.”

One EDL supporter then wrote to Breivik: “Bravo, admire your views and courage. no surrender and welcome.”

Searchlight also said that a millionaire computer engineer living in north London is a backer of the EDL. Alan Lake, 45, has admitted providing funds to the organisation and is alleged to have referred to the Norwegian massacre on a far-Right forum earlier this week saying: “The chickens have actually come home to roost.” Mr Lake could not be reached for comment today.

MPs today called on the Government to investigate Breivik’s links to the EDL. Breivik is reported to have met leaders of the EDL in March last year when he apparently came to London for the visit of Geert Wilders, the Dutch Right-wing politician.

Daryl Hobson, who organises EDL demonstrations, said Breivik had met members of the group. There are also reports that he attended two EDL marches in the UK last year, one in Newcastle and one in London.

Evening Standard, 26 July 2011

Paul Ray, meanwhile, has been suggesting that the Englishman who Breivik described as his “mentor” is none other than the EDL’s Alan Lake. It is true that Lake does have a penchant for calling for his political opponents to be killed (see here and here), though he appears to be advocating state executions rather than acts of individual terrorism. Whether that subtle distinction is clear to the people he inspires, however, is another question.

Update:  See also “Anders Behring Breivik had links to far-right EDL, says anti-racism group”, Guardian, 26 July 2011

Update 2:  And “EDL supporter: Breivik’s a ‘hero in the war on Islam'”, Socialist Worker, 26 July 2011

‘Peacefully protesting against Newport County’ – Stephen Lennon convicted of leading street brawl

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stephen Lennon arrestedThe founder of the English Defence League has been convicted of leading a street brawl with 100 football fans.

Stephen Lennon, 28, shouted “EDL till I die” and encouraged fellow Luton Town supporters when they clashed in the town with Newport County fans on 24 August last year.

Lennon, a father of three from Luton, was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work and given a three-year football banning order. He was also ordered to pay £650 in costs. He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and accused of leading Luton’s hooligans into a fight.

He denied the charge but was convicted after a trial at Luton and South Bedfordshire magistrates court. Outside court he said he was being persecuted for his rightwing beliefs. “I am being done for what I am saying rather than what I am doing,” he said. “In the last 12 months I’ve been banned from protesting, going to the football and my assets have been frozen. It is a police state.”

Lennon was at the front of a large group of fans and was seen provoking opposition fans by gesturing and swearing at them. A terrifying scene unfolded with masked fans fighting, launching bottles and other missiles including a car roof rack.

A car windscreen was smashed during the battle as only seven police officers struggled to separate the sides. PC Robert Field described the scene as “incredibly intimidating” to members of the public and said it was “clearly going to get out of control”.

Lennon, who has previous convictions for assault, possession of cocaine and disorderly behaviour, shook his head upon hearing the verdict.

Guardian, 25 July 2011

More on Breivik’s links with the EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anders Behring Breivik had extensive links to the far-Right English Defence League, senior members of the group have admitted.

Breivik was understood to have met leaders of the EDL in March last year when he came to London for the visit of Geert Wilders, the Dutch Right-wing politician. Daryl Hobson, who organises EDL demonstrations, said Breivik had met members of the group. Another senior member of the EDL said Breivik had been in regular contact with its members via Facebook, and had a “hypnotic” effect on them.

Breivik wrote of having strong links with the EDL, saying he had met its leaders and had 600 EDL members as Facebook friends.

Mr Hobson said in an online posting that: “He had about 150 EDL on his list … bar one or two doubt the rest of us ever met him, altho [sic] he did come over for one of our demo [sic] in 2010 … but what he did was wrong. RIP to all who died as a result of his actions.”

Another senior member of the EDL, who spoke to The Daily Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said he understood Breivik had met EDL leaders when he came to Britain to hear Wilders speak in London last year.

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Harry’s Place and the English Defence League

Posted on by Bob Pitt

In response to comments by the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Behring Breivik that he both admired and had given advice to the English Defence League, Socialist Unity has pointed out that “the Islamophobia preached by this far right organisation is in tune with much of the Islamophobic propaganda that appears on Harry’s Place” and has reposted a screenshot of the EDL’s LGBT division recommending HP:

EDL and Harry's Place (1)

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London’s East End unites against EDL: rally Friday 29 July

Posted on by Bob Pitt

UEE logoUnited East End, a coalition of activists, trade unionists and community groups in Tower Hamlets, is organising an event on Saturday 3 September to celebrate the East End’s diversity and express its opposition to the racist English Defence League, which has announced plans to march on the borough that day.

UAF is supporting the United East End coalition and is calling on anti-fascists from across the country to come to Tower Hamlets that day and show solidarity with local people opposing the EDL.

United East End and UAF are also organising a public rally onFriday 29 July, 7pm, at the London Muslim Centre on Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JQ.

Speakers will include the Right Reverend Adrian Newman, the new Bishop of Stepney, in his first public engagement in the borough.

Last week Tower Hamlets council unanimously agreed to support a United East End petition signed by representatives from a host of local organisations including East London NUT, the London Muslim Centre, Neighbours in Poplar, Rainbow Hamlets LGBT community forum, Tower Hamlets Inter-Faith Forum, Tower Hamlets Tenants Federation and Tower Hamlets Unison.

We will be publishing more information on the Tower Hamlets demonstration shortly, including leaflets, petitions and details of organisations backing the anti-EDL event. In the meanwhile, click here to download a PDF of the press release issued by United East End and backed by UAF, Tower Hamlets Inter-Faith Forum and the borough’s No Place For Hate campaign.

UAF news report, 22 July 2011

Suspect in Norway terrorist attacks is Geert Wilders admirer

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anders Behring Breivik2As theories abounded early Saturday as to the group or person behind the deadly twin attacks in Norway a day earlier, investigators began to face the fact that they were likely dealing with a home-grown terrorist.

Key suspect Anders Behring Breivik – a blond, 6ft, 32-year-old Norwegian – was arrested after a gunman opened fire on a summer camp of students who had met to spend a long weekend discussing politics, playing football and enjoying music. The camp was organized by the Workers’ Youth League and was a meeting for young socialists.

Breivik was also believed to be linked to the explosions that ripped through Oslo earlier in the afternoon.

As police began searching the flat that he shares with his mother in a wealthy area of western Oslo a picture began to emerge of a loner with links to right-wing extremists and who had been well-educated and enjoyed hunting.

Breivik appeared to come from an affluent background, attending a middle-class secondary school in the city. Apart from a traffic conviction ten years ago he has no criminal record, according to a Norwegian newspaper. He completed a year of national service in the army.

Breivik had set up his own business, Breivik Geofarm, and a month ago had started to run an organic farm in Hedmark in eastern Norway. There he reportedly produced and stored fertilizers that he was able to use in explosives.

He was known to be active on the internet, expressing extremist Islamophobic views on forums and criticizing immigration policies.

He recently claimed that politics today was not about socialism vs. capitalism but nationalism vs. internationalism. He argued on a Swedish news website that the media were not critical enough about Islam and claimed that Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom in the Netherlands was the only “true” party of conservatives.

Newscore, 22 July 2011

A commenter at little green footballs has pointed out that Breivik is also a fan of Pamela Geller, whose blog Atlas Shrugs he has cited.

Update:  Breivik recommended other sites associated with the so-called counter-jihad movement, notably Jihad Watch, Gates of Vienna and the Brussels Journal. In December 2009 he wrote that he was working full time to promote the ideas of Islamophobes like Robert Spencer and Bat Ye’or.

He also wrote of his contacts with the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe and claimed to have given them advice on strategy. He attached importance to building “a Norwegian version” of the EDL to fight against anti-fascists and anti-racists.

Attempts to set up a Norwegian Defence League have been beset by problems, including accusations that the organisation had been “taken over by neo-Nazis“. It would be interesting to know what role if any Breivik had in this.

Norwegian police warned of rising far-right extremism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ahead of Friday’s terror attacks in Norway, Norwegian police intelligence had warned of rising activity in far-right and anti-Muslim extremist groups, but didn’t view it as a major threat to Norway.

The man charged in the attacks, which killed at least 92 people, has been identified in media reports as Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year old with right-wing extremist and anti-Muslim views.

The Norwegian Police Security Service, or PST, in an annual threat assessment published in March, said “a higher degree of activism in groups hostile to Islam may lead to an increased use of violence.” PST also noted an “increase in the activity of far-right extremist circles in 2010,” and said, “This activity is expected to continue in 2011.”

However, the security service viewed Islamist extremism as a larger threat and concluded that far-right fringe groups or individuals wouldn’t constitute a major threat against Norwegian society.

The rhetoric on immigration and Islam in Norway has become harder in some fringe groups, Kari Helene Partapuoli, director of the nongovernmental Norwegian Centre against Racism, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Although the suspect’s online postings seem to express views largely consistent with anti-immigration right-wing movements, the apparent targeting of the Labor Party sets him somewhat apart, she said. “I think he views them as a party which represents multiculturalism,” she added.

She noted that the extreme-right movement in Norway is small and lacks the kind of organization it has in several other European countries, including neighboring Sweden. The lack of leading figures was also cited by PST as a factor hampering the growth of organized right-wing extremism.

Ms. Partapuoli noted that the discussion on immigration has been less prominent in Norway than in many other European countries. “We have seen relatively less of it in Norway; it has never been like in Denmark and Netherlands with their big debates about how multiculturalism has failed,” she noted.

“In that movement, they do label social democrats weak and naive, but this kind of hatred is not commonplace,” she said, adding that in his online rhetoric, the man “calls just about everyone who doesn’t agree with him a ‘Marxist’.” “I think he views them as a party which represents multiculturalism and this ‘Marxism’ threatening Norway,” Ms. Partapuoli said.

Wall Street Journal, 23 July 2011

Breivik’s hatred of the Labour Party certainly didn’t set him apart from the English Defence League, an organisation for which he expressed his admiration. When the EDL was founded, a Labour government was still in office in Britain and EDL propaganda consistently vilified Labour for having supposedly sold out to Muslims, as the placards below illustrate. They are from the first Dudley protest which took place in April 2010, in the run-up to the general election.

EDL anti-Labour placards