Sunday, 14 November 2010
Luton EDL Leader Charged with Assaulting Police
The founder of the English Defence League (EDL) has been charged with assaulting a police officer during clashes with Islamic protesters.
Stephen Lennon, 27, of Luton, was held by police in Kensington, west London, as the nation stopped to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day.
Five others associated with his group were also arrested as members of Muslims Against Crusades (MAC) burned remembrance poppies.
Two Islamic protesters, aged 30 and 25, were arrested for public order offences after the poppies were set alight and protesters chanted "British soldiers burn in hell" during the two-minute silence.
One officer was taken to hospital with a head injury during clashes as about 50 men linked to EDL were kept separate as they shouted abuse.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Lennon had been released on bail and would appear at West London magistrates' court on November 22.
He said four other men, aged 41, 42, 19 and 18, all arrested on suspicion of affray, were released on bail until mid-December.
It is not yet known what happened to a fifth man who was held on suspicion of possession of class A drugs.
The spokesman added that the two members of Muslims Against Crusades had been bailed until mid-December pending further inquiries.
Meanwhile, parents of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan condemned the inflammatory protest by the hard-line group.
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