Police arrested 58 anti-fascist demonstrators this afternoon as they clashed with BNP supporters outside the Palace of Westminster today.
The majority of those arrested are thought to have been supporters of United Against Fascism, and the BNP group cheered as handcuffed demonstrators were led onto a red double decker bus which had “Special Service” as its destination.
The fighting came despite calls for peace from police and the family of soldier Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death in Woolwich last month in what police are treating as a terrorist attack.
One BNP supporter who suffered a large cut to his nose said: “I've put my best suit on today and come out for a peaceful demonstration and this is what's happened. And to think they call us thugs!”
BNP activists holding banners saying “hate preachers out” were heavily outnumbered by anti-fascists with “smash the BNP” and “say no to Islamaphobia” signage.
The group of counter-protesters chanted “fascist scum” and “you racist Nazis” at their rivals.
Nick Griffin, whose party was banned by police from protesting in Woolwich over fears of “serious disruption to the life of the community” and the potential for “serious disorder”, arrived at around 2.30pm to the sound of the national anthem.
The BNP leader said the tragic murder of Lee Rigby would not be an “isolated” incident, adding: “We're pointing out that it will happen again and again and again until the West disengages with Islam and they leave our country.”
Dozens of police attended the demonstration, accompanied by sniffer dogs deployed to calm the situation as tempers flared.
Scotland Yard said that the anti-fascists had gathered in a pre-arranged penned area - but some were unwilling to remain within that area.
A spokesman said: “Due to police concerns about serious disruption to the life of the community, and the potential for serious disorder should this counter protest confront the BNP organised protest, police have imposed conditions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
“Those conditions state that the protest must take place in Whitehall Gardens junction with Whitehall.
“A group of about 300, also believed to be part of the UAF protest, were stopped in Old Palace Yard junction with Abdingdon Street.
“This group have now been notified of the conditions imposed under Section 14 and requested to move to Whitehall Gardens to continue their protest. Officers are in negotiation with this group.”
Those held by police were arrested for breach of the Section 14 order
For a long time now, the papers and the TV have been filling the public's heads full of lies about the British National Party, and giving praise to the UAF and Hope not Hate. Both the UAF and H n H are nothing but violent thugs, who are paid by the government to cause as much trouble as they can. The supporters of the UAF and H n H are the Labour Party. The Lib/Dems and the Conservtative Party.
The UAF and Hope not Hate are anti British and pro Muslims. They support Muslim Paedophils and Muslim terrorists, and they also support the Muslims who murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The British National Party were in Woolwich to march in protest against the Muslim hate preachers, but the the UAF and H n H were there to defend the hate preachers.
The British National Party are a peaceful political party who do not believe in violence in any shape or form. The British National Party stand up for the rights of the British people. They want Britain to belong to the British and not to third world countries. The BNP want all Muslims removed from Great Britain, they do not belong here and they never will. The British National will make Britain Great again, but the Labour party, the Lib/Dems, the Conservatives and UKIP will destroy it.
Do not be fooled by UKIP. Nigel Farage is just like the rest of them, he's a Conservative and he's already said that if Cameron is booted out, then Farage will then join them. Farage has also gone back on what he said about immigration, at first he said immigration will be stopped for five years, now he gone back on that promise and changed his mind.
If you love your country and you want it to be like it used to be, then vote for the British National Party, if you want it turned in to a third world country where all white British people will be gone within 50 years, then vote for the traitors, but remember, they can only be traitors if you vote for them, which also means the people who vote for Labour. Lib/Dems. Conservative or UKIP, are also traitors too..