Picture gallery: Four arrested at Birmingham EDL march

Oct 30 2011 by Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury

POLICE made just four arrests as a rain-soaked English Defence League demonstration in Birmingham passed off peacefully yesterday.

Hundreds of cops from as far away as Wales were drafted in to prevent a repeat of violent scenes which had marred previous protests in the city.

Around 500 EDL protesters gathered in Centenary Square, while 120 anti-fascists staged a counter demonstration in Chamberlain Square.

But there were no major confrontations and police made just four arrests, with two people detained for possessing an offensive weapon, one for possession of cannabis and one held over an outstanding warrant.

The two rival groups were kept well apart by police during the two-hour demonstration, which ended with EDL members being walked back to their coaches.

At the start of the EDL protest, one organiser had actually scolded those in the crowd who had earlier thrown glasses and set off fireworks.

He said: “Whenever you throw glasses and let off fireworks you drag us all down.

“You people who are doing that, you are morons, total morons.”