Missiles hurled as riot cops attacked

POLICE PELTED WITH BRICKS AS THEY KEEP DEMONSTRATORS APART

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

MISSILES were thrown as police came under attack from a gang of demonstrators when a town centre protest turned ugly.

Opposing groups goaded each other – separated by police outside Bolton town hall.

One styled itself ‘Enough is Enough: Stand up for Country’, and the other was a rival group of counter demonstrators.

During an ill-tempered encounter, bricks and other missiles were launched at riot officers attempting to keep rival factions apart.

The protests had been peaceful until the a counter protest was swelled by the arrival of about 300 young men, mostly Asian and some of them masked.

It sparked angry scenes outside the town hall with both sides chanting towards each other before some of the group of young men ran from the square, pursued by police.

This was the beginning of several skirmishes – sometimes violent – between the group and riot police, which included objects being thrown at officers.

The eruption of anger represented a second day of trouble in Greater Manchester, following disorder in Manchester city centre on Saturday afternoon when fights broke out.

A supermarket had to be closed and public transport was brought to a standstill.