TEN people were injured and 44 people arrested in the English Defence League protest in Manchester city centre.
Police imposed a lockdown around Piccadilly Gardens as EDL demonstrators faced off against Unite Against Fascism (UAF).
The two factions stood on opposite sides separated by a police line with officers on horseback and in riot gear.
EDL supporters, who oppose “radical Islam” and Sharia law made Nazi salutes and sang patriotic songs, while UAF protesters maintained a non-stop anti-fascist chant. Sticks and railing were thrown.
EDL protest in Manchester as it happened
Both sides traded insults and there were regular surges against the police line. There were several hundred EDL protesters and more than 1,000 from the UAF. Pockets of trouble broke out but were quickly stopped by police.
The stand-off continued for about four and a half hours on Saturday afternoon. Shops were closed around the Piccadilly area.
Around 4.30pm some UAF protesters began to disperse. Shortly before 5pm police moved the EDL supporters off Piccadilly Gardens and escorted them to bus and train stations.
Ten people were hurt, one seriously. They were taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary and North Manchester General. Three people were suffering from dog bites.
Greater Manchester Police arrested 44 men. Twenty-nine were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, four were arrested for affray, three for possession of an offensive weapon – one of whom was also arrested for possession of drugs. Three men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences. Five were arrested for on suspicion of breach of the peace.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “I would like to thank all those people who came to Manchester today and protested peacefully for their patience and understanding.
Peaceful
“I’d also like to commend the vast majority for demonstrating in a peaceful manner.
“However, the history of protest has been marred, by those who came intent on violent confrontation.
“GMP has ensured that despite the significant size of the protest, life in the city went on as normal.”
Deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Jim Battle, said: “The police carried out an outstanding operation which allowed the city to go about its business with the minimal of disruption. I would like to congratulate the whole policing team, from the officers on the ground to the senior commanders, for their excellent work.”
UAF spokesman Mike Gilligan said: “It was a tremendously successful day for the anti-racist movement.
“The EDL were run out of town, they were not very powerful, they completely failed.
“Our protesters reflected the energy, particularly of young people, who showed their disgust at the racists trying to group together in Manchester city centre.
“It was a vibrant celebration of multi-cultural Manchester.”
The North West Ambulance Service had specialist teams and extra vehicles in the city centre to cope with any injuries.
Ged Blezard, Greater Manchester head of the service, said: “Events were carefully monitored throughout the day from various strategic locations and thankfully no life threatening injuries were reported. In terms of co-ordination the trust are confident that our plans worked well. Our frontline staff coped with the event in an efficient and professional manner and we would like to express our appreciation for the hard work they put in.”
Live - EDL protest in Manchester
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Is It Me? (10/10/2009 at 15:28)
The way that others have been carrying on,you would think the EDL had no right to stand up fr their counrty against being blown up and overrun!
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (10/10/2009 at 15:39)
Have there been any Nazi salutes as at the last protest?
Copycat, Castleton (10/10/2009 at 16:03)
If football can be seen as worth the ongoing cost of policing and vandalism -then freedom of political expression surely can. The rather iconic pic of Queen Vic peering as unamused as ever from her BNP stickered seat sums it up for me!
unknown n/a (10/10/2009 at 16:13)
"As soon as they step over the line between lawful protest then we will be taking positive action against those individuals. If you are going to come to Manchester and think you can get away with shouting racist, inflammatory remarks, you can expect us to respond."
Isnt it quite obvious that this will turn out to be a riot!!..i mean why allow this to happen??!!! this is not Patriotism it is RACISM!!
Esso Blue, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 16:27)
The private enterprise at the british taxpayers expense. How come the taxpayer pays the Army but the Army don't answer to the Government?. Is it private enterprise using the taxpayer again?.
Maybe the EDL need to look at the politics of it all then come to the round table.
How many miles is there between Uk and Afghanistan? and how many european countries would they need to cross to get here!. Why are muslims at loggerheads with Britain.
k man (10/10/2009 at 16:35)
What is this going to achieve,mosques are still going to get built anyway EDL are just sad narrow minded people who have no lifes, i am muslim and we are also against extremism its just a very small minority who are extreme minded, England can have their own law and we respect that, sharia law is whithin our religion and only for muslims to follow.
Billy Boy (10/10/2009 at 16:43)
Tip, when police dogs or horses try to move you, move, don't stand there
Old Trafford Pirate Appreciation Society, Old Trafford (10/10/2009 at 17:00)
Two sides, Salford (10/10/2009 at 17:12)
10/10/2009 at 15:39
Do you mean in a similar way that 'Nu labour' has demonised certain sections of the community. But my guess is you wouldn't call them a bunch of Nazis? Once again the fascist left have to throw the mantle of 'Nazi' at everybody who doesn't have the same opinion as theirselves.
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (10/10/2009 at 17:35)
These people insult the memory of people who died fighting the Nazis. I am not calling all EDL supporters Nazis but clearly they attract people of that mindset. That's a fact.
BluePurgatory, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 17:43)
Esso Blue, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 18:03)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (10/10/2009 at 18:10)
Esso Blue, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 18:18)
salfordrat (10/10/2009 at 18:38)
Is It Me?,
I'm lost. What country is being blown up and overrun? Are the EDL in Afghanistan too now?
Beau Dean (10/10/2009 at 19:17)
taxed2death, Urmston (10/10/2009 at 20:04)
Hellas (10/10/2009 at 20:05)
MikeSlad1956, Oxfordshire (10/10/2009 at 20:15)
R Annie, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 20:15)
BluePurgatory: if you've nothing constructive or intelligent to say on the subject, I'd advise not saying it.
TwoSides: If people act like Nazis, then they'll be called Nazis... do the math.
The altogether mental EDL were COMPLETELY entitled to protest... peacefully (some chance)... just as the opposition was allowed to counter protest. But when you try and inflame the situation, as the police are extremely good at doing, then you get flashpoints. The cops overreacted big time.
ergo (10/10/2009 at 20:20)
We now know where we stand. There is a Muslim protest every other week.Nobody interferes with their right to do that, although they are usually protesting about far away countries that have nothing to do with us.If these so called fascists were serious they would be there disrupting their demos.
I spoke to some of the EDF they are not fascists or Nazis,but cmany have children fighting in Afghanistan, or have lost limbs fighting there.They are confused by what has happened to their country not at the hands of Muslims,but white people with a completely arrogant need to stop anyone else. If it was not this it would be capitalists, or animal rights, anything for an excuse to interfere with someone else's rights. I did not talk to any of these goggle eyes. One screamed and ranted at me when I was talking to someone else.
Fascism is dead except for a very tiny minority. Hopefully we have seen the last of socialism.Let us not forget in the hysteria. Inspite of the horror of the Nazis the socialists have murdered far far more innocents. So we know who we should fear the most.
As for Muslims 30 years ago I thought our fellow Aryans from Pakistan were hard working, decent citizens who had a better chance of integrating than the West Indians. The West Indians apart from a criminal minority are well on the way to integrating and it is a pleasure to visit most West Indian islands. But something terrible has happened to the Muslims.
MikeSlad1956, Oxfordshire (10/10/2009 at 20:23)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (10/10/2009 at 20:24)
x x (10/10/2009 at 20:30)
This may seem to be a ridiculous statement I know. I was thinking the same thing myself at the protest, but it seems it is the truth. I spent equal time on both sides of the lines, both UAF and EDL, and the most concise arguments came from the EDL side. The weed smoking (literally) UAF mob seemed to be unsure as to what they were protesting against? The UAF members I spoke to explained that they were against the BNP & Nazis. So why not stand alongside the EDL and protest together?
This oh so slightly biased news report could have done with interviewing some EDL members I think.
sandinistas, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 20:30)