Police seek information after violent incidents follow EDL demo

The Yorkshire Post reports that police are appealing for information after a string of violent incidents took place following an EDL demonstration in Cleckheaton town centre, including a violent assault on an Asian man.

From the local paper:

“Police in West Yorkshire [are] appealing for information after a series of incidents in Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Dewsbury that followed a demonstration by the right-wing English Defence League on Saturday.

“Around 60 members of the EDL took part in a pre-planned lunchtime demonstration in Cleckheaton town centre. It ended without incident at 3pm and the group dispersed.

“But shortly afterwards the window of the Co-Op in Heckmondwike was smashed. Two men from Bradford, a 32-year old and a 20-year old were arrested, and are currently on bail pending further enquiries.

“At 4pm the police received reports of disorder in Dewsbury Town centre. A group of men in Corporation Street had abused and assaulted a 35-year old Asian man, knocking him the floor and leaving him with a black eye and bruising to his ribs.

“Supt David Lunn of Kirklees police said: “We know that following the demonstration in Cleckheaton a number of men, purporting to be members of the EDL turned up at various location across Kirklees, displaying posters and flags and shouting abuse at members of the public. We have had a shop front damaged in Heckmondwike and the serious incident of the assault on the 35-year old man in Dewsbury Town centre.

““If people have mobile phone footage of racist chanting, damage, or assaults taking place anywhere in Kirklees on Saturday, I would appeal for those people to contact us as the information they have could help us greatly with our enquiries.””