Founder of far-right English Defense League pleads guilty to contempt of court charges

LONDON (AP) — The founder of the far-right English Defense League pleaded guilty Monday to contempt of court for violating an order banning him from repeating defamatory allegations against a Syrian refugee.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, admitted breaching the order several times at Woolwich Crown Court, during interviews posted on YouTube and in a video he released during a rally in London’s Trafalgar Square in July. In account X.

Robinson, 41, the founder of the nationalist and anti-Islam EDL, is one of the most influential far-right figures in Britain. thousands of people They rallied in support of him on Saturday at a UK rally he had planned in central London but was unable to attend because he was jailed.

Accused of inciting protests turned into a week of violent turmoil In England and Northern Ireland this summer, following social media users ill-defined He is the suspect in the knife attack that killed three young immigrant and Muslim girls in the seaside area of ​​Southport.

Robinson has been jailed in the past for assault, contempt of court and mortgage fraud.

Robinson was banned from Twitter in 2018 but was allowed back after Elon Musk took over the social network and later renamed it X. He currently has 1 million followers.