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| Per chi mastica un pò l'inglese. Ampia galleria fotografica QUIVEBottles, stones and smoke bomb hurled during English Defence League demonstration in BradfordBy Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 5:52 PM on 29th August 2010 Five people arrested as police erect barricade Violence broke out today at a controversial city centre demonstration by far-right group the English Defence League. EDL supporters threw bottles, cans, stones and three smoke bombs at opponents gathered in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Nearly 100 supporters of the far-right group then climbed over a temporary eight-foot barricade - aimed at keeping them inside the city's Urban Gardens - to get on to neighbouring waste ground from where they threw missiles at police.
As the skirmishes were breaking out in the gardens, nearly 300 people gathered for an alternative event hosted by Unite Against Fascism/We Are Bradford about half a mile away at the Crown Court Plaza. West Yorkshire Police said five people were arrested. One person was taken to hospital for treatment to a leg injury. The EDL supporters met in Halifax before travelling to Bradford on buses under police escort for the static demonstration. Members had travelled from many towns and cities across England, including Hull, Merseyside, Manchester, Stoke, Southport, Dudley, Wigan and Stockport.
Only one entrance to the gardens was open and protesters had to pass through metal detectors to gain entry. The West Yorkshire force received support from neighbouring forces, including Greater Manchester, Northumbria and Humberside. Police said around 700 people had gathered in and around the venue, as a heavy police presence ensured trouble would be kept to a minimum. Beyond the heavy police guard, opponents of the EDL gathered to hold their own demonstration and the two groups traded insults with each other. One EDL supporter, a Muslim called Abdul Salaam, 40, from Glasgow, was escorted into the gardens by police under a chorus of shouting from opponents. Unravelling a Glasgow Rangers flag, he asked reporters: 'Why are they against the United Kingdom?
'Islam doesn't teach you hatred, it teaches you peace. These people are hypocrites, they are not true Muslims.' Another EDL member said: 'It's not about being white and proud, it's about being English and proud.' When trouble flared, police pushed the EDL members away from the edge of the barricade towards the centre of the gardens, while their opponents were moved into neighbouring streets. Then the far-right group held a rally as police in riot gear held their line. Skirmishes broke out between EDL supporters and their own stewards, who stood in front of the police. Ahead of today's demonstrations, events were held yesterday to urge people in the city to unite. Bradford Together organised a peace vigil which took place outside the council offices in Jacobs Well. Bradford Women for Peace also held an event at Ivegate in a show of 'peace, unity and solidarity'.
The calls for peace came amid fears that today's demonstrations could have provoked a violent reaction to rival the 2001 Bradford riots, where 191 people were given sentences totalling more than 510 years. Initially the EDL intended to march in Bradford with a planned protest by Unite Against Fascism on the same day. A high-profile campaign was started to stop the EDL march and a 10,000-signature petition opposing it was handed to the Home Office. Home Secretary Theresa May was asked to authorise the ban by Bradford Council. It came after West Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison, wrote to the council requesting an order to prohibit any public processions over the August Bank Holiday weekend. A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said tonight: 'At this stage there has been five arrested as part of the operation. 'Police are currently working to ensure the protesters leave the city and we will continue to have a high-profile presence to reassure the people of Bradford. 'We thank people for their patience and support so far and we hope to have protesters removed from the city as soon as possible.'Fonte www.dailymail.co.uk
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