Tommy Robinson quits as leader of EDL EDL leader Tommy Robinson complains that he is shunned when picking his children up from school as he quits his anti-Islamist group Extremist group infamous for violent alcohol-fuelled protests nationwide Co-founder Kevin Carroll also quits the right-wing group Mr Robinson, 30, has been repeatedly arrested by police But he says street demonstrations are no longer productive English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson today quit the group claiming he fears the 'dangers of far-right extremism'. Mr Robinson and Kevin Carroll, who set up the anti-Islamist group in 2009, have decided to leave because they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay. The EDL have become infamous for alcohol-fuelled street protests across the country which often result in violence as members clash with opposing groups such as Unite Against Fascism. Extremist group: EDL leader Tommy Robinson, 30, today quit his group because he has fears about the 'dangers of far-right extremism' Mob: English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson (left) with EDL supports in a mask protest in Woolwich Arrest: Tommy Robinson is held during a recent English Defence League protest Mr Robinson, 30, said that the street demonstrations are no longer productive. In a Tweet, he wrote: 'The most difficult day of my life! I thank Edl supporters for their messages of support . For me this is a step forwards not backwards In his first interview since the announcement, Mr Robinson said while he wants to lead a revolution against Islamist ideology, he does not want to lead a revolution against Muslims. Speaking to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 live, he said his decision to leave the group was to be true to what he stands for. Quitting: Tommy Robinson announces on Twitter that he is leaving the EDL because he has concerns about extremism 'When some moron lifts up his top and he's got the picture of a mosque saying boom and it's all over the national newspapers it's me,' he said. 'It's when I pick up my kids from school the parents are looking at me, judging me on that. And that's not what I've stood for and my decision to do this is to be true to what I stand for. 'And whilst I want to lead a revolution against Islamist ideology, I don't want to lead a revolution against Muslims. Offensive Tweet: A message left on Twitter by Tommy Robinson just over a week ago. Despite posting the message days ago, Mr Robinson said he was concerned about the dangers of extremism Turning point? Tommy Robinson meets Mohammed Ansar, a prominent with political and social commentator. As he quit the EDL today, he said he wants to 'lead a revolution against Islamist ideology' but not 'lead a revolution against Muslims' 'If something was set fire and someone wrote "David Cameron" on the side of it, does it mean he did it?' - EDL leader defends his organisation after an Islamic Centre in north London is set on fire and 'EDL' is found written at the scene. 'Our tactics are completely questionable, yes, and I understand people who say you are going about it the wrong way' - Mr Robinson admits he understands why the EDL are criticised. This is a day of respect for our Armed Forces. They've had their Arab Spring. This is time for the English Spring' - offensive outburst after Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich. "I class everyone in my community as everyone who is non-Islamic" - The offensive words of Tommy Robinson who today said he is not anti-Muslim. 'Complimentary lunch, manager's a top lad, couldn't be more apologetic' - EDL leader Tweets his delight after Selfridges offer him a free lunch after previously refusing to serve him. 'You obviously haven't read the article properly - there is nothing in common with what you have to say' - Mr Robinson is slapped down by Tony Blair's office after he Tweets in support of an article the former Prime Minister wrote. I believe that the revolution needs to come from within the Islamic community and they need to stand up. And I believe this is a step forward not a step back. Mr Robinson and Mr Carroll announced their departure from the EDL through counter-extremism think tank Quilliam, saying they had decided to leave because they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay. In a statement issued through Quilliam, Mr Robinson said: 'I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognise that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive. I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas. The EDL started in response to a demonstration by Muslim extremists as soldiers marched through Luton. Mr Robinson has hit the headlines repeatedly, after being arrested several times, as well as voicing his controversial views during marches across the country, and on television interviews, including one with the BBC in the wake of the death of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich earlier this year. Quilliam, which calls itself the 'world's first counter-extremism think tank', said it is helping the former EDL leader, who also goes by the name Stephen Lennon, move away from the group and put his energy into countering extremism. It called for other members of the EDL to follow in his footsteps, and for Islamist extremist leaders to also leave their respective groups. Chairman and co-founder Maajid Nawaz said: 'As well as being a very positive change for the United Kingdom, this is a very proud moment for Quilliam. This represents not a change but a continuation for us, as challenging extremism of all kinds forms the basis of our work. We have been able to show that Britain stands together against extremism regardless of political views and hope to continue supporting Tommy and Kevin in their journey to counter Islamism and neo-Nazi extremism. Offensive Tweet: Tommy Robinson writes 'this is the best Muslim I know' and posts a picture of a man drinking a pint of beer - which will offend many Muslims - while making a rude gesture. Today Mr Robinson claimed he was not anti-Muslim, despite this inflammatory post this month Violence: EDL members are held back by police during a demonstration in Leeds town centre in 2009. Their heavily-policed protests often result in a large number of arrests The think tank is hosting a press conference for Mr Robinson and Mr Carroll at an 'undisclosed location' this evening, it said. Anti-racism campaign group Hope not hate said it was reacting with 'cautious optimism' to the news. Director Nick Lowles said: 'EDL supporters have called for mosques to be burned, holy books to be destroyed, Muslims to be deported, they have cost us £10m in policing bills, brought disorder to our streets, and many, many more have been sentenced for acts of violence, gun possession, paedophilia and other crimes. Co-founder: EDL Deputy leader Kevin Carroll, seen here preaching on the streets, also announced that he is standing down from the far right group To claim they represented working class Britons was laughable: HOPE not hate and others have worked closely with unions, faith groups and the real working class of Britain to oppose the blind hatred and violence promoted via the EDL and its counter-jihadist backers. Merely setting up a new party or anti-Muslim organisation will not be enough to convince anti-hate campaigners, and those interested in democratic government, that Lennon and Carroll have truly renounced their ways. We hope they have. Well done to Quilliam but many questions still remain. A headache for police: The populist street movement opposing radical Islam and dividing political opinion The English Defence League has been described as the biggest populist street movement in a generation, posing a headache to police and dividing political opinion as to whether it should be banned. The far-right group emerged in 2009 out of the United Peoples of Luton, formed by Tommy Robinson when Muslim extremists demonstrated in the town against a homecoming parade from Iraq by the Royal Anglian Regiment. The group has no normal joining procedures or membership list and its activities have been characterised by volatile street demonstrations and "flash mobs." It also has a strong online presence. Protest: Kevin Carroll, EDL deputy leader, addresses supporters of the far-right English Defence League in May following the killing of Lee Rigby. Mr Carroll also quit the group today The street demonstrations have frequently been associated with violence, anti-social behaviour and arrests, often after clashes with anti-fascist campaigners. The official ideology of the EDL is to oppose radical Islam, according to Jamie Bartlett, of the think tank Demos, but its supporters are drawn from a wider interest group. "There are people who don't like immigration, there are people who don't like the political system... there are football hooligans who like to turn up on Saturday and enjoy a fight," he said. 'There are people who don't like immigration, there are people who don't like the political system... there are football hooligans who like to turn up on Saturday and enjoy a fight' Jamie Bartlett, EDL expert It is a pretty wide collection of people because it is a sort of social media group that comes together. The group's "extremist" image was further enhanced by the news in 2011 that the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik had hailed the EDL as a "blessing" and had written about how he wished to attend EDL rallies. Mr Bartlett, who is author of the report Inside The EDL, estimated that there were between 25,000 and 35,000 "genuine" EDL supporters of which around only a "few thousand" would take part in demonstrations. Just under a third of EDL supporters, or 30 per cent, are educated to university or college level and 15 per cent have a professional qualification, according to the report. Its supporters are also overwhelmingly male, at 81 per cent compared with 19 per cent female, according to the Demos report.