The English Defence League or EDL is one of the most well-known far-right groups in the UK and grew to prominence in the early 2010s.

Founded in 2009, the main ideologies and tenets of the group include islamophobia and English ultranationalism.

It rapidly gained support after coalescing around several football hooligan firms protesting the presence of a small Salafi group called Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah in Luton.

In the years following its foundation, the group which was once led by Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson), would hold often violent protests across the country.

Tommy Robinson's real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-LennonTommy Robinson's real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (Image: PA Wire)

Is the EDL defunct?

While the EDL hasn't officially disbanded, it began to fall into decline in 2013 when fewer and fewer people started attending its rallies.

Despite making a brief resurgence following the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby, Tommy Robinson left the far-right group that same year after fearing that he had lost control of its more violent elements.

By 2017, the group was mostly making headlines because of its dwindling numbers and the increasing amount of called-off events.

Nowadays, the group is considered non-existent by the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, according to Sky News.

Tommy Robinson also echoed this view with the public figure writing on X, formerly Twitter: "The riots are caused by local residents fed up. Nothing to do with the EDL which closed down over a decade ago."

Groups similar to the EDL also exist in Scotland and WalesGroups similar to the EDL also exist in Scotland and Wales (Image: PA Wire)

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Are there groups similar to the EDL in other parts of the UK?

Far-right and Islamophobic groups similar to the English Defence League exist in other parts of the UK with the Scottish Defence League and Welsh Defence League also hosting a small number of demonstrations.

An undercover investigation by the BBC recently discovered links between neo-Nazis and the WDL while a trial in 2018 saw SDL member Peter Morgan jailed for 18 years after his flat was deemed a bomb factory by police.