August 28, 2010

Bradford: Smoke bombs thrown at English Defence League protest

EDL supporters and police clash in Bradford
More than 1,600 officers on horseback and in riot gear pen in 700 activists, including BNP members and soccer thugs

Far-right activists threw smoke bombs and missiles and fought with the police as trouble flared in a protest organised by the English Defence League.

Bricks and bottles and smoke bombs were thrown at anti-racist supporters and police as around 700 EDL activists – including known football hooligans and BNP members – held a "static protest" in Bradford city centre. Mounted officers and others in riot gear were attacked as they pushed the EDL into a penned area. Skirmishes continued as EDL speakers addressed the crowd and there was more violence as its supporters were put back on coaches.

More than 1,600 officers from 13 forces were involved in the police operation amid fears the demonstration would descend into violence. Police said there had been five arrests.

The EDL, which has held demonstrations in towns and cities across the country over the past 12 months, had predicted that thousands of its supporters would turn out in Bradford for what was dubbed "the big one", but police said there were around 700 people.

Earlier in the afternoon coachloads of EDL activists had chanted "Allah, Allah who the fuck is Allah?" and "Muslim bombers off our streets". One of the coach drivers said: "I didn't expect a job like this when I came to work this morning. We're a five-star firm. We don't usually take scumbags like these."

Thousands of anti-racists and local residents joined counter-protests and events organised around the city. Mohammed Khan, 29, said: "We want to show the people of the UK that Bradford is a united and peaceful place, where Asians, white people – everyone – gets along. Nobody here wants these people. They are just trying to divide this city and provoke trouble."

Several hundred people gathered at a community celebration at Infirmary Fields near Manningham, where running battles between youths and police took place in 2001. "Everyone wanted to join in to tell people how good this city is," said Surhra Bibi from Bradford's Fairbank Road. Hundreds of other demonstrators joined an event organised by Unite Against Fascism in the city centre.

Earlier this month Theresa May, the home secretary, authorised a ban on the march but police and politicians claimed that they were powerless to prevent the far-right group holding a "static protest".

Yesterday, as the demonstration came to an end, fights broke out among rival gangs within the EDL and local teenagers and anti racist campaigners were kept back by mounted police. A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "Missiles have been thrown in the area around the Bradford Urban Gardens; however, this has been contained and the police are utilising their resources to manage the current situation."

The decision by Bradford council to seek a marching ban followed a formal request by West Yorkshire chief constable Sir Norman Bettison, made after his force carried out a risk assessment of the proposed event. Bettison said he was taking the action after considering the "understandable concerns of the community".

David Ward the local Liberal Democrat MP, who attended the event in Infirmary Fields, said the city had moved on in the past nine years.

"This is a celebration of all that is good about Bradford. We're not so much a big city as a collection of villages – communities which get along and today have got along. I want no part of the hatred some people are showing in our city centre. We have moved on from 2001. I hope today is the day that is made clear."

The EDL, formed last year, has become the most significant far-right street movement in the UK since the National Front in the 1970s. It claims to be a peaceful, non-racist organisation opposed only to "militant Islam". But many of its demonstrations have ended in confrontations with the police after supporters became involved in violence and racist and Islamophobic chanting.

In May, the Guardian revealed that the EDL was planning to step up its Islamophobic street campaign, targeting Bradford and Tower Hamlets in London.

Guardian

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Timeline at Northern Indymedia
http://northern-indymedia.org/action_timelines/edl-come-to-bradford-find-out-the-latest-updates-here

UK Fightback said...

EDL supporting Blood & Honour and the NF -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftj7X_oknSo

Anonymous said...

From what I've read it looks like a big wet trouser cough from the EDL.

Anonymous said...

West Yorks Police are saying 13 arrested. 8 from Bradford, the rest from Wakefield, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Birmingham.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/Bradford-EDL-Arrests

Rah said...

I can't help feeling that this 'Static protest' wouldn't have even made the news if it were not for the Anti racists opposing them...

La Di Da Gunner Graham said...

Wazzocks washout!

bx said...

Funny how there were only five arrests after so many missiles were chucked.

Was the CCTV not working, or what?

Should have been 30-50 arrests for EDL violence and racial abuse.

Anonymous said...

RAH said:-
"this 'Static protest' wouldn't have even made the news if it were not for the Anti racists opposing them..."

Exactly RAH... publicity on a plate

Anonymous said...

Rah said... "I can't help feeling that this 'Static protest' wouldn't have even made the news if it were not for the Anti racists opposing them"

But the REALITY is the EDL made international news in Luton - twice - with 100% of ZERO anti-racists opposing them.... try to keep up mate

Anonymous said...

Daily Express headline:

"OFFICERS BATTLE BIGOTS UNDER HAIL OF MISSILES"

Even their former friends in the media are turning against them. With the Tories in power the EDL now seem surplus to requirements by the powers-that-be.

Rah said...

Maybe this is the reason most of the EDL stayed away?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKJAB6IDNlI

Anonymous said...

There's a great photo in the daily mail of a young edl supporter who looks like one of the zombies from George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead".

Gotta use 'Zombie-boy' on every EDL story from now on.

Anonymous said...

@Rah

The EDL BROKE out of the pen and tryed to head into town. If the anti racists had not been protesting then the 'static protest'would have turned into EDL rampage through Bradford attacking Asians people.

Rich

Anonymous said...

Notice the distinct lack of Israeli, Rainbow and other flags and banners on this EDL demo.

This was the EDL stripped of the 'clown gear' and with their more serious faces on.

Kev Scott loves The Jam said...

Anonymous said...
There's a great photo in the daily mail of a young edl supporter who looks like one of the zombies from George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead".
Gotta use 'Zombie-boy' on every EDL story from now on.


Lol, this one:http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/28/article-1306969-0AF3049C000005DC-283_306x423.jpg

I notice that the keyboard warriors are flooding the mail comments on this story!!!!

Anonymous said...

Someone tell me are the EDL English or British?

Anonymous said...

Daily Express headline:

"OFFICERS BATTLE BIGOTS UNDER HAIL OF MISSILES"

Even their former friends in the media are turning against them. With the Tories in power the EDL now seem surplus to requirements by the powers-that-be.

Their sister sleazebag paper (if one could call it a paper), the Daily Star actually SUPPORT the English Defence League, they've plainly indicated that in the past. As for the Daily Express, they could in their twisted rightist way mean the UAF are the bigots. I wouldn't trust either publication for all the tea in China.

law man said...

In 2001, the magistrates court gave Asian rioters SIX YEARS EACH for throwing single stones.

HOW LONG WILL THE EDL STONE-CHUCKERS GET?

£600 FINES AND A SLAP ON THE FUCKIN' WRIST?

TALK ABOUT UNEQUAL JUSTICE?

Anonymous said...

Video footage of EDL scum yesterday turning on each other and fighting, what prats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJWY59KxsYk

Anonymous said...

Butlers blog today is very interesting, a further statement by Shelley Rose this time dragging Simon Darby into the pit

tulip

Anonymous said...

Simon Darby SEX SCANDEL on British Democracy site. A must see weedy Darby been sh**ging Rose.

Anonymous said...

I notice that the keyboard warriors are flooding the mail comments on this story!!!!

Yes, but their protestations that the EDL are innocent, peaceful and democractic really does contrast with the photos of the EDL throwing rocks at the cops!

Anonymous said...

Daily Star actually SUPPORT the English Defence League, they've plainly indicated that in the past

Weren't the Daily Star trying to push the EDL into establishing themselves a formal political party last year?

Either way, I reckon Express Group newspapers will cool their support. They will probably just ignore them or give them tiny little write-ups on page 21.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKJAB6IDNlI

Those two EDL will have sore heads today. Notice the bloke in the blue sweater only acted lairy when the copper was there to protect him.

Greenie said...

Notice the distinct lack of Israeli, Rainbow and other flags and banners on this EDL demo.

But I saw plenty of Glasgow Sectariangers flags, heh!

Anonymous said...

Someone tell me are the EDL English or British?

They're rubbish.

Anonymous said...

"Notice the distinct lack of Israeli (and other) flags... on this EDL demo. This was EDL stripped of the 'clown gear'"

Take a look at. About 5th photo in shows EDL with Israeli flag

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolpictorial/sets/72157624705940327/

Anonymous said...

Daily Star actually SUPPORT the English Defence League, they've plainly indicated that in the past

I don't think there's much difference between Dawn Neesom (editor of the Daily Star) and that chav woman who had a wee up the war memorial in Blackpool, apart from the fact one went to journalistic college.

Anonymous said...

"Zombie-boy" is interviewed here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2010/aug/30/english-defence-league-bradford-protest

1:07 in.

He sounds as thick as he looks.