Since the police had kettled the sit-down counter-protest at the junction of Forest Rd and Hoe St, thereby completely blocking their own route for escorting the EDL, the cops re-directed the EDL round the back-streets, avoiding the main block, but heading straight into another police blockade at the top of Kenilworth Ave (where, if it hadn't been blocked, the EDL would have been able to re-join Forest Rd). Hoping an EDL rally might somehow "help" their fledging political party, whose name nobody can be bothered to even remember, EDL leader and former BNP member Stephen Lennon waited on the pavement further up Forest Rd, with a few minders, a small tent, loudspeakers and massive police protection - surrounded, outnumbered and totally drowned-out by hundreds more very unwelcoming counter-protestors. Napoleon's cousin Kev Carroll had forced himself into a suit, but seemed confused about whether he was impersonating a real politician or dressing for work as a loan-shark's enforcer.

The sheer weight of opposition meant the main EDL group was never going to make it from Kenilworth Ave to reach Captain Manwairing's tent on Forest Rd, so the police escorted Lennon back to the main EDL group to preach to the EDL's already-converted, in a side-street, with no-one else listening. After a long wait the police escorted the EDL back the way they came, so they slunk off back to Blackhorse Rd, pausing only to chant "Allah is a Paedo" at a handful of mums and toddlers watching them from the garden of the William Morris Art Gallery. A small group of kids threw bits of mud at them, and the police responded by going totally apeshit and threatening to use their truncheons to beat-up the iron railings separating them from the patrons of the art gallery. All in all a pretty shit day for Britain's "leading" group of closet NF and BNP activists.

EDL supporter Darren Mann posed for photos holding knives and hammers, promising he'd join the EDL demo in Walthamstow. The police knew perfectly well this sociopath would be turning up in Walthamstow, and he did, but rather than arresting Darren and protecting Londoners from a potentially homicidal thug, the cops ignored widely-publicised warnings of his intentions, and, when Darren and/or his mates attacked counter-protestors with bottles and fireworks, the police arrested arrested some of the counter-protestors instead

The 1st and 2nd photos are ones Darren posted on-line, in the 2nd you can see the word Darren tattooed on his left arm, the "crucified skinhead" and braces tattooed on his chest. The 3rd photo shows him at today's demo - left, "crucified skinhead" and braces visible. 4th & 5th photos - same demo, more of the same tattoos (note wristband). Photo 6 - he's the guy carrying the flag which says "EDL - Stockton Wrecking Crew", the Stockton Wrecking Crew are a right-wing skinhead gang who've been known to the cops for years, which I guess is why the cops did NOTHING

same thing.

What a bunch of morons. It's like watching the real life incarnation of that advert for The Sun...

good acoustics, shame about the actual numbers -

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=Nn8jK5W_jPg

Please join up the 2 reports and then delete this message, ta ;)

Having had a go at the Met for not arresting the EDL bomb-throwers that provoked such trouble as there was in Walthamstow - minimal trouble given the degree of provocation - some people have said that in fact, when the EDL got back to Blackhorse Rd tube, the Met arrested all of them, yes ALL of them

Still the cops should not have lashed-out at anti-fascists however

You can see the smoke where the first EDL bomb landed among the anti-fascists -
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-k7oF9bAL8

Seconds later, police MEDIC crushes anti-fascist's head against the pavement inside bus shelter -
 http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/no-slug/3ca34ad265c01e27a9fef2d0090d4b56.jpg

Homeward bound, EDL surge (aka failed attack) outside the art gallery -
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZgNWtxoF0

EDL Walthamstow - Knives, Hammers (see above) + Stockton Wrecking Crew

As above