Missiles thrown during Bradford EDL demonstration

 

Bottles, stones and a smoke bomb were thrown during demonstrations by a right-wing campaign group and their opponents in Bradford.

Trouble flared at the city's Urban Gardens where about 700 English Defence League (EDL) supporters had gathered.

They were being penned in by hundreds of police as a separate group of about 250 from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) assembled for a rival protest nearby.

Police said there were no reports of injuries. One person was arrested.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Missiles have been thrown in the area around the Bradford Urban Gardens.

"However, this has now been contained and police are utilising their resources to manage the current situation."

Mounted police Officers had earlier erected a temporary barricade around Urban Gardens.

EDL supporters began throwing bottles, cans and stones over the barricade towards opponents gathered opposite Urban Gardens shortly after 1400 BST.

A smoke bomb was also thrown over the temporary 8ft high wall separating the two groups, landing on the ground and exploding by uniformed police officers.

For public safety, mounted police pushed people away from Urban Gardens down Market Street, while other officers forced EDL members away from the barricade into the centre of the gardens.

Earlier this month, home secretary Theresa May authorised a blanket ban on marches in Bradford, but this did not prevent "static" demonstrations.

The EDL's Bradford rally was smaller than one held in neighbouring Leeds last October, which attracted about 900 supporters and 1,500 UAF opponents

@'BBC'

Dear EDL, your supporters are protesting Islam by covering their faces with black hoodies. You haven't thought this through have you?