The far right has moved online, where its voice is more dangerous than ever

Social media such as X are fuelling the growth of extremism by allowing its figureheads a platform to direct violence

The resurgence of far-right violence in the UK is in part due to Elon Musk’s decision to allow figures such as Tommy Robinson back on to the social media platform X, researchers say.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and those of his ilk are not leaders in the traditional sense and the far right has no central organisation capable of directing the disorder and violence that has been seen, experts say.

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Far-right thugs exploit Black Lives Matter movement, warns UK anti-extremism chief

Home Office commissioner Sara Khan reveals surge in online hate material since death of George Floyd

The Black Lives Matter movement has been aggressively exploited by the UK’s far right, which has recruited and radicalised people on the back of its success, the government’s chief adviser on extremism has warned.

Sara Khan, Britain’s first counter-extremism commissioner, said far-right activists had used the death of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter (BLM) to propagate white supremacist narratives online.

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‘I’m getting death threats,’ says man who threw milkshake on Tommy Robinson

Danyaal Mahmud says he’s worried about his family after protest against far-right candidate went viral

It was a bright but chilly Thursday morning when Danyaal Mahmud set off from Blackburn to Warrington in Cheshire for a meeting with an occupational health therapist. The 23-year-old works as an apprentice customer services adviser and had never been to a march before.

By the end of the afternoon, Mahmud had become the poster boy for protest; a clip of him throwing a milkshake over Tommy Robinson’s head has been shared as the viral sensation of the week.

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Facebook bans far-right groups including BNP, EDL and Britain First

Number of organisations and individuals permanently banned for being ‘dangerous’

Years after the company first dismissed fears it was empowering extremists, Facebook has permanently banned a number of far-right organisations and individuals including the British National party (BNP), the English Defence League (EDL) and Britain First .

The ban, which came into effect at midday on Thursday, extends beyond the groups and individuals specifically cited as hate organisations: posts and other content that “expresses praise or support” for them will also be banned, as will users who coordinate support for the groups.

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