Twelve people have been arrested during a protest which attracted more than 800 people organised by the English Defence League in Buckinghamshire. The EDL, which says it opposes "militant Islam", organised the protest in Aylesbury's Market Square earlier.
A police spokesman said that "on the whole" the protest had been peaceful but there had been "some disorder". Eight of the people arrested were being held on suspicion of carrying offensive weapons. Police said there were fewer protestors than the EDL had anticipated. The group has held demonstrations over recent months in Manchester, Bolton and Derby.
Supt Richard List, of Aylesbury police, said: "We made it very clear to the EDL at the outset that we would not tolerate any disorder on the day and that there would be a significant police presence. The police operation will continue until we are totally satisfied that there are no risks or threats to public safety."
A counter protest was held in Vale Park earlier, but had since dispersed.
BBC
Showing posts with label Aylesbury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aylesbury. Show all posts
May 02, 2010
April 29, 2010
Aylesbury protest: 'This won't be the last'
The national leader of the English Defence League yesterday warned that Saturday's demonstration in Aylesbury could be the first of many after a bitter row erupted with police and council bosses.
Officers were hoping to keep EDL members on the outskirts of town before a rally in Market Square, to prevent skirmishes with counter demonstrators. But yesterday Tommy Robinson – not his real name – said EDL protestors are now planning to evade police and instead gather in Vale Park – where an anti-EDL demonstration is due to be held.
He said: "If our demonstration doesn't go how we want it to go, we'll come back in six weeks. No other place has tried to block us like this one has."
The EDL fell foul of police and council chiefs after trying to put up a stage and use loudspeakers – which they need a licence for. At a tense meeting on Monday, they were also told that they were not allowed to carry wooden framed banners. Coachloads of EDL members would have been met by police and escorted to Market Square, where they would have been contained inside solid barriers.
Robinson said ominously: "We don't think they're doing well if they want it to go peacefully.
The Bucks Herald
Officers were hoping to keep EDL members on the outskirts of town before a rally in Market Square, to prevent skirmishes with counter demonstrators. But yesterday Tommy Robinson – not his real name – said EDL protestors are now planning to evade police and instead gather in Vale Park – where an anti-EDL demonstration is due to be held.
He said: "If our demonstration doesn't go how we want it to go, we'll come back in six weeks. No other place has tried to block us like this one has."
The EDL fell foul of police and council chiefs after trying to put up a stage and use loudspeakers – which they need a licence for. At a tense meeting on Monday, they were also told that they were not allowed to carry wooden framed banners. Coachloads of EDL members would have been met by police and escorted to Market Square, where they would have been contained inside solid barriers.
Robinson said ominously: "We don't think they're doing well if they want it to go peacefully.
The Bucks Herald
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
