On 28 August, EDL fanatics amused themselves by yelling racist taunts, such as "Allah is a paedo", out of a police cordon and throwing cans of beer, rocks and smoke bombs at counter-demonstrators and curious bystanders. About 150 of them then managed to climb out of the cordon (one breaking his leg in the process) into a neighbouring industrial estate but were confronted by 300 or so anti-fascist protesters and chased back to their waiting coaches.

Earlier this month, Corporate Watch published the names and contact details of the coach companies that were seen driving the EDL 'travelling circus' to Bradford. These included Andrews of Tideswell, Airshuttle, Johnsons and Watersons. Some of them were subsequently sent protest letters by readers and 'concerned clients'.

Ausden Clark is the largest coach hire operator in Leicestershire, with a fleet of 60 mini-coaches and double-deckers. It is a member of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade association representing the UK bus and coach industry, and is the official transporter of Leicester City Football Club.

According to Mr Frost, Ausden Clark was not aware who this group they were transporting to Bradford were until the driver contacted the head office to convey his concerns. “The coach was booked by an unknown person to our company, who came into our head office giving bogus contact details and paid in full over the counter,” he said.

“On the day in question, our driver was put in a horrific situation and our coach used as a barrier between the two groups with the police sandwich[ed] in-between. We don't operate coaches to [be] used in this manner or wish to be involved in anything like this in the future,” he added.

On the day of the rally, another coach driver was overheard telling journalists in Bradford: “I didn't expect a job like this when I came to work this morning. We're a five-star firm. We don't usually take scumbags like these.”


*Notes:*

1. The original Corporate Watch article can be found at
 http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3726

2. An analysis of the EDL Bradford rally can be read at
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/09/457997.html