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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester Police may seek EDL march ban | Greater Manchester Police may seek EDL march ban |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Greater Manchester Police's chief constable says he may seek to ban a march by the English Defence League (EDL) over fears it could spark unrest. | Greater Manchester Police's chief constable says he may seek to ban a march by the English Defence League (EDL) over fears it could spark unrest. |
| Peter Fahy is to meet Tameside councillors to discuss whether to apply for a Home Office ban for Saturday's proposed march in Hyde. | Peter Fahy is to meet Tameside councillors to discuss whether to apply for a Home Office ban for Saturday's proposed march in Hyde. |
| The protest follows an alleged attack on two youths in the town earlier in the month. | |
| The EDL said the march was a national protest against extremism. | The EDL said the march was a national protest against extremism. |
| Mr Fahy said: "We are concerned that there could be a threat to peace and order. | Mr Fahy said: "We are concerned that there could be a threat to peace and order. |
| "The attack was an awful crime but I'm not sure we need outsiders coming in and clearly the fear is that they are just exploiting the situation." | "The attack was an awful crime but I'm not sure we need outsiders coming in and clearly the fear is that they are just exploiting the situation." |
| Mr Fahy said police would be talking to the council about whether to apply to ban the march although he added the EDL were legally entitled to stage a static protest. | Mr Fahy said police would be talking to the council about whether to apply to ban the march although he added the EDL were legally entitled to stage a static protest. |
| "It is a very serious issue and the Home Secretary only uses this power to ban marches on very limited occasions," said Mr Fahy. | "It is a very serious issue and the Home Secretary only uses this power to ban marches on very limited occasions," said Mr Fahy. |
| He added that the Home Secretary had to decide if the march could cause a risk to disorder or major disruption to life in the community. | He added that the Home Secretary had to decide if the march could cause a risk to disorder or major disruption to life in the community. |
| Man charged | Man charged |
| Two youths were allegedly attacked by a gang of Asian youths in Market Street on 4 February. | |
| A 21-year-old man has been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm while two other 17-year-olds and another 21-year-old have been released on police bail until 23 April. | A 21-year-old man has been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm while two other 17-year-olds and another 21-year-old have been released on police bail until 23 April. |
| Police are treating the incident as a hate crime because the teenager believes it was racially motivated. | Police are treating the incident as a hate crime because the teenager believes it was racially motivated. |
| A statement on the EDL website said: "Our reason for demonstrating in Hyde is not to further divide communities or win support for racial politics. | A statement on the EDL website said: "Our reason for demonstrating in Hyde is not to further divide communities or win support for racial politics. |
| "That is why we wish to make it abundantly clear that the British National Party, or any other group with a history of racial politics or racist ideas, will not be welcome at our demonstration. | "That is why we wish to make it abundantly clear that the British National Party, or any other group with a history of racial politics or racist ideas, will not be welcome at our demonstration. |
| "Our reason for demonstrating in Hyde is to protest about the government, the media and the Muslim community's continued inaction in the face of violent extremism and intolerance." | "Our reason for demonstrating in Hyde is to protest about the government, the media and the Muslim community's continued inaction in the face of violent extremism and intolerance." |