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'Illegal' protest goes ahead in town centre
Police brought in from other forces to control crowd
There were tense scenes in the centre of Luton on Easter Monday, as hundreds of protestors voiced their anger at extremists who disrupted the soldiers' homecoming march last month.
The protestors were demanding someone in authority be held to account for a group of Islamic extremists being allowed to demonstrate during the parade by the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment on March 10, which resulted in ugly clashes that hit the national headlines.
Monday's protestors planned to march from Debenhams to the Town Hall, but were corralled in the centre of George Street for over an hour by about 100 officers on foot and horseback, many of whom had been drafted in from neighbouring Hertfordshire and Thames Valley forces.
Six arrests were made during the afternoon, but a spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said none of them were protestors. One, a 17-year-old who threw a brick at a police officer on horseback, was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and will appear at Luton Magistrates Court on April 21. The others were involved in an assault and public order offences and bailed by police.
Pubs around the town centre were closed after the protestors began their march, which was deemed illegal as it had not been sanctioned by Luton Borough Council and the police.
Those involved carried placards demanding 'hate preachers' be banned from Luton town centre, and saying 'Shame on u Luton Borough Council'.
For the full story and pictures from the protest see the Wedneday, April 15 edition of The Luton News.
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Weather for Bedford
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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Wind direction: West
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