ENGLISH police are investigating Scottish links to a neo-Nazi march in Dover that resulted in rioting, weapon seizures, injuries and a number of arrests.
Violence erupted between far-right supporters and anti-fascists last Saturday during a march organised by the National Front in opposition to immigration and refugees.
The demonstration was attended by members of the Scottish Defence League (SDL) who joined with neo-Nazis such as Combat 18 and North West Infidels among other far right groups involved in running street battles with anti-fascists.
More than 20 weapons were seized by police including hammers, bricks, a lock-knife, knuckle duster, glass and pieces of wood.
At time of writing, 17 people have been arrested for various offences including violent disorder.
Kent Police said they were examining footage of the violence and would liaise with other forces. One video shows far right supporters giving Nazi salutes.
The SDL boasted on social media that it was in Dover and posted photos of injured rivals.
On Facebook, the far-right group posted a video with a statement that said: “Well done to all the SDL and other patriot groups who went to the anti-immigration, anti-refugee, support our truckers demo in Dover.”
Hooded members of Antifa – a violent left-wing group that opposes neo-Nazis – were among pro-refugee supporters and they appeared to also be involved in violence.
The SDL video went on to claim Antifa members, communists and anarchists had tried to stop the march by throwing flares, bottle and bricks and that they were “forced to defend themselves”.
“This resulted in several traitors being hospitalised,” the SDL added.
A Twitter account with the handle @gwalker1312 – claiming to belong to the SDL – posted photos of an injured man lying on the ground.
The tweet said: “Ha ha member of antifash eating the pavement with a burst mouth not so brave on the streets f***ing scum.”
Another SDL tweet displayed a photo of a man with a bloodied mouth and broken teeth and the words: “Another pic of an antifash member missing a few front teeth lol”.”
The same account also claimed that far-right supporters had routed anti-fascists. The National examined footage of the violence posted online which shows far-right supporters carrying Saltires during confrontations with rivals. One clip shows a masked person wearing a black hoodie with a Saltire logo and the words No Surrender to Al Qaeda while another clip shows a St Andrew’s flag alongside a black-and-red National Front flag as people run across parkland.
There’s also footage of a man holding a Saltire in the middle of a group of National Front supporters charging at anti-fascists and a photography of a man holding a Saltire with the words “Scottish Defence League – Edinburgh Division”.
One person suffered a broken arm, five others were injured and three were arrested during the demonstration.
Bridget Chapman, chair of Kent Anti Racism Network (KARN) said: “I was there and I definitely saw a Scottish Defence League flag. There were about 200 Nazis sieg heiling, goose-stepping and chanting ‘refugees f*** off’. They were hurling bricks and paving stones. They smashed up five buses in Maidstone and attacked a car with a Russian family inside. Most of the Nazis came from other parts of the UK and people in Dover don’t want them here.”
South East Alliance, North West Infidels and East Kent English Patriots were among other far-right organisations involved in the anti-refugee protest.
There were also reports of an incident at Maidstone service station in the morning, where coaches carrying pro-immigration protesters en route to Dover came under attack. Witnesses described seeing a swastika daubed in blood on the side of a coach.
In a statement to The National, Kent Police said: “A total of 17 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations in Dover on Saturday 30 January 2016. More than 20 weapons were seized in total at Dover and the M20 services including a lock-knife, knuckle duster, pieces of wood, glass, hammers and bricks.
“One man suffered a broken arm but there were no other serious injuries reported, including to police. Extra officers were on duty in the town to allow a march to the Eastern Docks and a separate protest in the town centre to go ahead as planned, while minimising disorder and disruption to the community. Detectives continue to review CCTV footage and investigate offences reported both before and during the demonstrations. Clearly officers will be liaising with other police forces.”
Kent Police invoked additional powers to search people for weapons ahead of the protest under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, between 9am and 7pm on Saturday in parts of Dover.
The city has been the scene of an ongoing standoff between anti-fascists and right-wing groups led by a resurgent National Front since a similar “anti-immigration” protest in September 2015.
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