Far-right British fugitive Tommy Robinson is currently on holiday in Cyprus, staying at a holiday village near Cape Greco.
Robinson, a former member of the fascist British National Party and the founder of the anti-Muslim English Defence league whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in the UK after failing to attend court in relation to a previous case against him.
He was photographed by the Daily Mail at the hotel in Cyprus and later posted on social media that he had come to the island to spend time with his family but they were now scared because of the paper ‘doxing him’.
He has previously served a total of five years in prison for various crimes including the assault of a police officer, contempt of court, falsifying his identity and mortgage fraud.
For the past week, the United Kingdom has been gripped by far-right riots which have erupted in towns and cities across the country after it was falsely reported that a mass stabbing last Monday was committed by a Muslim migrant.
Hotels which have been utilised to temporarily house asylum seekers were set on fire with people inside.
Robinson has been accused by many in the UK of having incited the riots, with his social media a constant stream of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric, including an expletive-laden video shot on Sunday from the holiday village where he is staying on the island.
A spokesperson for British anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate told newspaper The Independent that “after Monday’s horrific attack, Tommy Robinson was regularly tweeting calling Islam a mental health issue, sharing videos of disorder and encouraging to join future demonstrations. One said: ‘get there and show your support. People need to rise up.’”
“We know that he was influential in Tuesday’s disturbance in Southport, rioters were chanting Tommy Robinson’s name and “Who the f*** is Allah?” – these are chants regularly heard at far-right demonstrations,” they added.
The British police appear to also be less than impressed with Robinson’s rhetoric while in Cyprus, with chief constable BJ Harrington, the country’s chief of public order, telling The Guardian that those inciting violence online will be prosecuted for their role in the riots.
“Social media is playing a large part, we are looking at that,” he said, adding that it is being used in the “incitement and encouragement”.
He said, “People in foreign countries are putting out disinformation.”
Asked by the newspaper whether that was a reference to Robinson, he said, “Tommy Robinson is one among many.”
