Christopher Steele, a former head of the MI6 Russia desk, has asserted that recent far-right riots in the UK bear “clear” evidence of Russian involvement. Steele, who is known for his dossier on Donald Trump’s alleged ties with Russia, indicated that security services will closely examine the role of online instigators in the recent unrest.
In the past fortnight, violent riots erupted in Southport and Rotherham, following false claims that a Muslim immigrant was responsible for an assault on a children’s dance class. The misinformation was propagated by far-right activists online, with Steele suggesting that the disinformation originated from a Russian-linked website.
The website, Channel3 Now, mimicked mainstream American news channels and spread erroneous claims about the Southport attacker being on MI6’s watch list. This false narrative was amplified by prominent far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson and potentially Nigel Farage, who has also questioned the government’s narrative on the attack.
Steele highlighted that the security services are scrutinising the movements, communications, and financial transactions of these instigators to determine the extent of Russian interference. He noted that such investigations are crucial in understanding how state actors might be influencing domestic unrest.
UK Prime Minister’s spokesperson confirmed that ministers are reviewing the involvement of state actors in the riots. They acknowledged that disinformation online, possibly amplified by state-backed activities, has contributed to the unrest. The National Crime Agency and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are currently investigating the matter.
Following the riots, there have been calls to revisit the Online Safety Act, which mandates social media companies to curb harmful content. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has criticised the Act as inadequate, emphasising the need for more robust measures to tackle online disinformation.
