Arrests And Drunkenness At EDL Leeds Protest

Four arrests were made during the English Defence League (EDL) protest in Leeds, Yorkshire, on 5th May.

Superintendent Martin Snowden of North East Leeds Police said the arrests were made for offences including being drunk and disorderly and minor public order.

During the morning, the far-right group EDL - long associated with anti-social behaviour and violence - gathered outside a pub, drinking, swearing and chanting. This was in concern of a run-down pub being turned into a supposed ‘Islamic’ centre.

Officers contained marchers. More than a dozen riot vans, police horses and police dogs were present at the scene.

EDL member Gail Speight made a speech. Whilst she spoke about the centre claiming that it would be a mosque in “ten years time”, some EDL supporters shouted: “Burn it! Burn it!. One supporter later chanted: “All you Muslims burn in Hell!” jokingly as Gail struggled to read off her prepared sheet of paper.

Notably, some supporters took to Facebook after and said it was a “waste of time.”

Further reading:

1. EDL Bring Severed Pigs Head With Them To Leeds
2. EDL Leeds Demo Turns into Violent Drunken Fiasco