Bangladesh, July 31 -- In recent weeks, violent protests in the UK have once again erupted over the contentious issue of immigration, with the small town of Epping, Essex, becoming the latest flashpoint. What began as outrage over an alleged sexual assault by an asylum seeker quickly spiraled into something far more dangerous: a coordinated display of far-right extremism, enabled by misinformation, fueled by economic anxieties, and amplified by the uncontrolled reach of social media.

Eight police officers were injured, over 20 protesters were arrested, and a town of just 12,000 was left shaken by scenes more reminiscent of an urban riot than suburban unrest. The target was a local hotel housing asylum seekers. Protesters, many masked, st...