‘Total system collapse’: Far-right Telegram network incites hate & violence after Southport stabbings

The 29 July stabbing attack in Southport, England, which left three girls dead, sparked anti-Muslim and anti-migrant hate, extremism, and violence in cities including Liverpool, Hull, Blackpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Belfast. A previous ISD Dispatch, published two days after the attack, showed how online misinformation mobilised far-right networks to hijack protests and fuel offline violence. 

The unrest has starkly illustrated how online platforms serve as tactical spaces for opportunistic extremists to agitate and mobilise, and as pulpits to encourage violent activity and promote hate against marginalised communities. 

This Dispatch explores these dynamics in detail, providing a qualitative analysis of 16 Telegram channels that mobilised around the riots. It examines how extremists used these channels to incite violence, coordinate activity, and spread hateful content. 

Key Findings 

The analysis found that Telegram – which is largely unmoderated – served as a hub for domestic and international far-right communities to: 

1. Stir anti-Muslim and anti-migrant hate;
2. Distribute locations and targets for further action;
3. Disseminate practical advice for would-be rioters;
4. Encourage extremist violence, including arson and accelerationist disorder.

Telegram 

The modern far-right comprises various – at times contradictory – movements, unified by xenophobia and nativism. These groups connect through loose networks across social media platforms, with Telegram being a core outlet.

ISD’s definition of far-right is in line with political scientist Cas Mudde who defines the term as groups and individuals that exhibit at least three of the following five features: nationalism, racism, xenophobia, anti-democracy and strong state advocacy. Mudde’s definition of “far-right” includes both radical right-wing and extreme right-wing actors. This piece of analysis explored communities situated at various places on the far-right spectrum. 

Telegram lacks a recommended content feed, limiting its capacity for virality compared to platforms like X or TikTok. However, its minimal terms of service effectively prohibit only child sexual exploitation and terrorist content – and even then, Telegram often acts only after law enforcement approaches them. 

ISD research has documented Telegram’s permissiveness for extremist actors and material, which surged in popularity among far-right communities from 2020 onward. While Telegram lacks algorithmically-boosted exposure, it effectively operates as a safe space for extremists to coordinate activity and instigate violence. 

Founder Pavel Durov announced in late July that Telegram now has 950 million monthly users, underscoring its significance as a platform for far-right networks to share propaganda, radicalise and recruit followers, and organise and mobilise. 

Far-right Agitation 

ISD reviewed 16 prominent Telegram channels and groups actively posting, hosting, and forwarding anti-Muslim and anti-migrant content related to the UK riots. 

These entities, active on Telegram for years, represent various actors across the far-right spectrum. Five were international, while eleven were linked to domestic groups. Some operate as far-right news and information channels, others as online white supremacist propaganda channels. 

The largest cohort (6 channels) was linked to white nationalist groups active in the UK, such as Britain First and Active Clubs. These channels primarily promoted violence and encouraged followers to take action against migrants. 

ISD identified 6 additional chat channels created on Telegram in response to the Southport rioting. These were removed from the platform on 5/6 August and excluded from ISD’s analysis. One particularly explicit chat group spread hate, incited violence, and encouraged terrorist acts related to anti-Muslim, anti-migrant activity in Southport itself. The reason for removal is reportedly a result of Telegram taking action, which itself would be a rare and welcome example of the platform acting in line with its policies. 

Table 1: Nature of channels analysed.

Table 2: Average membership of channels

Tactics: Narratives and Mobilisation 

Far-right channels used Telegram to deploy various tactics targeting migrant populations, including: 

1. Amplifying false and inflammatory narratives;
2. Organising offline events;
3. Sharing operational advice for would-be rioters.

This section provides an overview of these tactics. 

Migration 

Far-right influencers rushed to blame migration for the Southport incident, despite the suspect being Cardiff-born. One popular message claimed: “Those three little girls that were stabbed to death in Southport are dead because politicians supported policies which allowed another migrant killer to come to Britain.” 

Another widely-shared message forwarded by a number of channels analysed stated that “this conflict is the result of tensions where ethnic Britons believe they are being replaced in their home.” 

Many channels promoted “replacement” conspiracy theories, alleging a sinister government plan to replace white British people with non-white migrants. This theory has gained popularity among North American, European, and Australian extreme-right circles in recent years. 

Image 1: Telegram post promoting the “Great replacement” conspiracy theory.

A ‘Justified’ White Uprising 

Posts encouraged hostile or violent action after the Southport stabbings, attempting to justify actions of “patriots” against migrants. One post by a white supremacist propaganda channel, viewed over 9,500 times, featured a video of far-right groups throwing bottles in Blackpool with the caption: “White people have the right to defend their country.” 

Muslim/Migrant Backlash 

Far-right channels shared videos, images, and compilations allegedly depicting Muslims or migrants attacking white people in the UK. According to The Times newspaper, groups in Middlesbrough and Bolton were filmed by the broadcasters Channel 4 News and Sky attacking white men and making firearm gestures. However, there’s no evidence of coordinated, nationwide attacks against white communities comparable to recent events. 

Far-right Telegram channels use this material to incite further violence against migrant and Muslim communities and portray them as organised, extremist entities. 

Coordinating Future Action 

Telegram has become a key organisation and mobilisation tool for far-right networks. After widespread violence over the 2-4 August weekend, a list of immigration and refugee service buildings was distributed, encouraging “Mostly Peaceful Protests™️” for 7 August. 

“Mostly peaceful” has become a dog whistle among far-right communities online, referring to protests likely to turn violent. The phrase originated from a CNN chyron during 2020 US violence outbreaks. 

Image 2: Telegram post calling for “mostly peaceful” protests on 7 August. 

Advice for Attending Protests 

Far-right networks distributed messages advising attendees on protecting their identity and avoiding arrest while engaging in unlawful activity. One popular post advised wearing balaclavas and leaving phones/wallets at home. It added that “good, law-abiding people who respect and want to uphold the System should stay home and watch the BBC.” 

One channel shared instructions on targeting and disabling police water cannon vehicles. Conversely, some channels warned against “fake protests” they believed were planned to entrap protesters, which is indicative of the paranoia and distrust among far-right networks on these channels. 

Violence: Arson and Accelerationism 

Far-right channels used Telegram to celebrate and encourage violence, including terror tactics to intimidate, harass, and harm Muslim and minority communities across the UK. This section overviews these themes.

Arson 

Some channels encouraged and advised on using arson against migrants, Muslims, or associated locations. One white nationalist channel repeatedly posted messages that could constitute supporting terrorism, including calls to “burn it fucking down” and “arson against migrants.” 

Image 3: Telegram post advertising a “candlelight memorial” outside 10 Downing St.

Celebrating Violence Against Migrants 

Channels linked to the Active Club white nationalist network and far-right political organisations shared posts glorifying looting, violence, and arson against Muslim/migrant businesses. One widely-shared post featured footage from Belfast captioned “locals torched an Arab shop for the second time,” eliciting numerous supportive emoji reactions. Another post, highlighting how a kebab shop was destroyed during the recent riots, received a similar response. Lastly, one channel shared clips from the 2019 Christchurch Mosque attack footage and used the post to share an anti-migrant message. 

Accelerationism 

Some channels called for accelerationism, a term used by white supremacists to refer to hastening societal collapse through violence targeting predominantly non-white people. Two notable posts read: 

1. “The destructive disease that has corrupted the west will reach its final hour and the aftermath will not be pretty.”
2. “England today, is on the cusp of complete and total system collapse. You must make a stand today and get on the streets, train with your friends or risk your bloodline being scrubbed from existence.”

Accelerationism has been embraced by white supremacist terrorist groups like Atomwaffen Division in recent years. Similar phrasing among far-right networks analysed here illustrates how this belief has now been endorsed by groups seeking to use violence against Muslims and minority communities in the UK. 

Conclusion 

While Telegram is just one part of the far-right digital ecosystem, it plays a significant role in fuelling misinformation, disseminating riot tactics, and encouraging violence in the UK. Other platforms, notably X, have similarly contributed to the online harm landscape surrounding the riots. 

However, Telegram provides a unique space where different far-right factions can easily communicate, organise, mobilise, and share violent messages. The result is an ecosystem where hateful conspiracy theories combine with specific tactical advice and detailed targeting information. 

Of the 16 channels reviewed, one appears to have been removed since this analysis was conducted. This channel was the most explicit in its calls for violence. In a reply to a journalist’s request for comment on 7 August, a highly rare event occurrence in itself, Telegram confirmed that it is removing calls for violence on the platform related to events in the UK and told the BBC: “Moderators are actively monitoring the situation and are removing channels and posts containing calls to violence. Calls to violence are explicitly forbidden by Telegram’s terms of service.”

These small but encouraging signs suggest Telegram may take action against extremism, violence, and terrorism when pushed. If left unchallenged, these channels will continue to contribute to extremist violence.