Violence at Whitechapel Protest

A spontaneous crowd of demonstrators attacked police and a member of the public in Whitechapel on Sunday, Scotland Yard have said.

Some of the police on duty in Whitechapel on Sunday. Photo: Discarded Production Unit @ flickr

A demonstration in Whitechapel on Sunday, described as: “united and peaceful” by an EastLondonLines reader, was marred by later scuffles and an arrest, when a crowd of young people attacked police and a member of the public in Whitechapel on Sunday afternoon.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm.

According to the police, the ‘very volatile’ group of young men, numbering up to 300, had assembled outside the East London Mosque in response to rumours of a rally by the controversial right-wing group the English Defence League.

Despite no EDL presence, the protesters became agitated and ‘surged up and down’ the Whitechapel Road. According to the police statement, there were ‘concerted efforts by the crowd to attack people at random.’

Police officers themselves were also attacked by the crowd ‘at points throughout the afternoon.’

Stewards and representatives of the mosque attempted to control the situation, police said, making ‘continued excellent attempts’ to pacify the crowd and even risking their own safety, but were unsuccessful.

In response to the ‘risk of serious disorder,’ and in order to prevent injuries to officers and bystanders, police isolated the area with a series of ‘filter cordons,’ which remained in place for around two hours.

An earlier anti-EDL rally in the area, held by Unite Against Fascism, was conducted peacefully. Police estimate participant numbers at around 1,500. Demonstrators suggest that the number was closer to 5000.

A UAF spokesperson said: “I heard there were a few nasty scuffles between local youths and police, but certainly the demo was very positive and a really good vibe.”

A passer-by commented on the ELL website: “Shame that the demonstrators/kids on Sunday attacked and intimidated pretty much any white person walking along Whitechapel Road (including smashing the windscreens of a white van with three white guys in). Even those three guys weren’t racist before – they probably are now.”

Did you attend the demonstration? If you have any information about Sunday’s events, you can comment below.

9 Comments

  1. Danny T June 23, 2010
  2. Angela Phillips June 23, 2010
  3. Sarah Creagh June 23, 2010
  4. Danny T June 24, 2010
  5. Neil Roberts June 25, 2010
  6. Adrian July 10, 2010
  7. Angela Phillips July 17, 2010
  8. discarded production unit August 14, 2010

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