Rochdale man held in EDL protest march

Rochdale protesters took part in a controversial English Defence League (EDL) march in Stoke at the weekend.

A total of 17 men were arrested on suspicion of committing a series of public order offences, violent disorder and assaulting a police office.

They include a 27-year-old from Rochdale, an 18-year-old from Bolton and two people in their 20s from Stockport.

They were among 300 members of the right-wing group who staged the latest in a series of demonstrations against Islamic extremists.

They brandished placards proclaiming “patriotism is not terrorism” and “stop the Islamification of Britain”. Members also sung the National Anthem and Rule Britannia, and shouted abusive chants about Muslims.

Scuffles broke out as EDL members tried to break a cordon preventing them from clashing with anti-fascist groups. Four officers received minor injuries and five police vehicles were damaged.