Left-Wing Pro-Islam Group Turns Violent

The leader of Unite against Fascism was among those arrested during the rally yesterday. Two people were taken to hospital with minor head injuries.

About 1,500 UAF members congregated in Victoria Square, Bolton, as coaches dropped off about 2,000 supporters of the EDL, which opposes Muslim extremists and the imposition of Sharia law.

The two factions were separated by barriers on the steps of Bolton's boarded-up town hall.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police said officers faced "a lot of hostility" and criticized some demonstrators for their "unacceptable" behavior. Most of the confrontations were between police and UAF supporters, according to onlookers. The EDL maintains it is a peaceful, non-political group campaigning against militant Islam.

But Second World War veteran Bertie Lois, 89, from Farnworth, Bolton, was protesting for the UAF.

He said: "I fought the Second World War against these Nazis. I would say to them, 'You are the guys we fought for, what are you doing?' "I am also here because I am against the war in Afghanistan."

Violence has sparked at previous EDL demonstrations up and down the country, as left-wing groups have mounted counter demonstrations.

Police have frequently had to break up fights between the opposing groups.

There were nearly 50 arrests at a demonstration in Manchester city centre in October, mostly for public disorder offences.