Agencies/London
English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson yesterday appeared to threaten violence against Far-Right thugs who did Nazi salutes — seconds after condemning all attacks.
He was given an early morning radio slot by the BBC to lay out EDL policies and even to argue that an attack on an Islamic community centre might have been committed by Muslims.
Robinson said he “utterly condemned” any violent act by anybody including EDL members.
Pressed on whether he condemned EDL supporters making Nazi salutes, he added: “Well, I think if I was standing next to them there would be a violent act. If you... look into our history I was actually arrested for assaulting someone doing that at our demonstrations. I wouldn’t tolerate that.”
The broadcast came amid tensions in the wake of the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, with an increase in the number of attacks on mosques and Islamic centres.
Robinson denied his group was to blame for an arson attack on an Islamic centre, which was daubed with the letters EDL, in Muswell Hill last week.
“It just seems ridiculous to me and I think everyone can see through it that that’s done to make it look like the English Defence League,” he said.
“If I’m honest, I’m completely sceptical that it is even non-Muslims that have done that.”
Asked if he would condemn attacks by his members on Muslims, he replied: “Utterly condemn it, disgraceful. Every single speech I gave since Woolwich, in fact in the last four years, condemn any acts of violence. So the only way to solve this is through democratic process, through peacefully protesting.” He added: “Our tactics are completely questionable, yes, and I understand people who say you are going about it the wrong way, but what choice do we have as working-class people, who, as soon as you put your head above the parapet, you call a racist or a fascist? Who wants to sit down and talk to us?”