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BNP member attacked with hammer BNP member attacked with hammer
(20 minutes later)
A British National Party (BNP) supporter was attacked with a hammer as protesters arrived at a campaign event in Greater Manchester. A British National Party (BNP) member was attacked with a hammer when protesters arrived at a campaign event in Greater Manchester.
Violence broke out as 30 protesters gathered around a BNP vehicle outside the Ellesmere Pub in St Helens Road in Leigh on Friday evening. Violence broke out as 30 people surrounded a BNP vehicle outside the Ellesmere Pub in St Helens Road in Leigh on Friday evening.
The 48-year-old victim was treated at hospital after he was struck with a hammer, said Greater Manchester Police. Tony Ward, 48, was hit with a hammer and later treated in hospital.
A 25-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the assault. A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, Greater Manchester Police said.
He is being questioned by detectives on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Officers arrived at the pub to discover the BNP's trailer had been overturned, said a police spokesman.
Officers arrived at the pub to discover the BNP's trailer had been overturned.
A traffic diversion was put in place on St Helen's Road, while the trailer was removed and the road was closed. It has since reopened.A traffic diversion was put in place on St Helen's Road, while the trailer was removed and the road was closed. It has since reopened.
A BNP fundraising event had been due to take place at Pure nightclub in Leigh, but it was cancelled at the last minute, according to a statement on the party's website. One witness told BBC News: "They had hammers and they smacked the vehicle to pieces, smashed all the windows and tore off the bumper, completely decimated it.
"I was shocked at what I saw."
A BNP fundraising event had been due to take place at Pure nightclub in Leigh, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
Simon Darby, the party's deputy leader said: "This was a violent attack by a group of thugs in which one of our members was badly injured.
"But we will not be put off."
The BNP's Nick Griffin has been in the area to host the event, said Mr Darby.