Far-right rally passes off with 15 arrests

POLICE have praised the people of Greater Manchester after a demonstration in the city centre led to just 15 arrests.

Five people have been charged following the organised event which was attended by 700 English Defence League members and 350 protesters from opposing organisations.

An operation was put in place by Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council in the lead up to Saturday’s demonstration in Albert Square. The counter-demonstrators met at Piccadilly Gardens and walked up to Albert Square.

Chief Superintendent John O’Hare said: “It was always going to be a challenging operation with tensions running high between two groups of people who are vehemently opposed to each other. There have been 15 arrests and out of a thousand protesters it is not uncommon for an event of this size.”

Councillor Bernard Priest, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “It is to the credit of both Greater Manchester Police and Manchester’s residents that the rally passed without serious incident.”

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