More than 160 arrested in EDL march clashes (VIDEO)

The Independent - More than 160 people were arrested yesterday as clashes broke out in east London during rival protests by hundreds of English Defence League supporters and thousands of counter-demonstrators.

The EDL leader, Tommy Robinson, was among those arrested "for incitement", the far-right group said in a message on its Twitter account. Some 3,000 police officers were deployed to keep the sides apart – and batons were reportedly used to stop protesters breaking through police lines in Tower Hamlets, home to one of Britain's biggest Muslim communities.

A police spokesman said about 160 counter-protesters were arrested after a group broke away from the official route and headed towards Tower Bridge, where they were stopped by police. There were 14 other arrests during the day for offences, including violent disorder and possession of knives and fireworks, the spokesman said.

Witnesses said free legal advice was being offered to the anti-EDL protesters. The counter-demonstration was organised by Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Facism, who said 7,000 people took part in the demonstration against the EDL.

"They [EDL] didn't come up with enough numbers and they really depended on the police to be able to escort them in an area where they were not really wanted. It really was like outsiders trying to cause trouble," Mr Bennett said.   Read More

Why The EDL Returned To Tower Hamlets:

EDL - Recently, Tower Hamlets reached boiling point. ‘Sharia Zone’ stickers began to appear. ‘Muslim Patrols’ roamed the streets at night, looking for haram behaviour to stamp out. No beer allowed, this is a Muslim area. No women without burkhas, this is a Muslim area. No homosexuals, this is a Muslim area. Get out or be brutally assaulted. This was their message to the people of London.

The police do very little to combat this enclave-building activity, and it has only served as a green light to the Islamic supremacists of Tower Hamlets to carry on. While Muslim youths were arrested and given a slap on the wrist for literally forcing Islamic observance on passers-by, the police never intervenes when hate preachers go about their regular work of spouting hatred and inciting their followers to commit acts of violence and debauchery. On the other hand, they’re quick to arrest any non-Muslim in the area who might be thinking of saying something that could be offensive to someone. George Orwell must be spinning in his grave.   Read More

Gatestone Institute elaborates on the proliferation of European 'No-Go' Zones for Non-Muslims