POLICE are putting extra measures in place ahead of an English Defence League demonstration in Colchester this morning.
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Up to 60 members of the controversial EDL will arrive in Colchester and plan to lay a wreath at Colchester War Memorial in tribute to murdered soldier Lee Rigby, who was killed by Islamist extremists in May, 2013.
In the immediate aftermath of the murder, the EDL Essex Division clashed with Essex Anti-fascists at the Colchester memorial during a wreath-laying ceremony.
Dozens of police officers were called to the skirmish, which lasted six hours.
Now the EDL plans to return today, two years since the murder, and Essex Anti-fascists are planning a counter demonstration.
Essex Police will have a more visible prescence in the town centre this morning.
The EDL plans to hold a two minute silence and lay a wreath at the Cowdray Crescent memorial at 11am.
LIVE UPDATES
And here is an @essexantifa banner at Queen Street side of memorial pic.twitter.com/lOtTOAd2WS
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
About 20 police officers are here alongside separate liaison officers who aim to keep the peace pic.twitter.com/zAdXP6cMk1
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Officers are also patrolling Queen Street, where the majority of EDL members are planning to walk through from the bus station
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Small skirmish breaks out as EDL members arrive and walk through protestors at memorial pic.twitter.com/InyqOjOhKK
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Police line separating EDL and anti-fascist protestors pic.twitter.com/HgY2iUPdXy
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
One EDL supporter reacts to chants of 'EDL doomed to fail' pic.twitter.com/rzwvIT6UBZ
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
EDL at memorial have dispersed to meet other members in Queen Street pic.twitter.com/FGSTcUCMzr
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Essex EDL leader Mark Dunbar has arrived alongside other members pic.twitter.com/St8l2W8nxs
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Line of @EssexPoliceUK officers await EDL group who will emerge from Queen Street soon pic.twitter.com/CyP0UPZWJP
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
I now count more than 40 police officers in the Queen Street/War memorial area.
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Best guess is about 50 @essexantifa protestors. They are now surrounded by police pic.twitter.com/GltJ2PNFH7
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
... Leaving one sole protestor in the path the EDL plan to take to the memorial pic.twitter.com/j35iNkMQh1
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
Two protestors have broken through the line and joined him pic.twitter.com/Ssv8phskBb
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
One protestor who is a wheelchair user has refused to move. pic.twitter.com/joZ80gGJYq
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015@EssexPoliceUK officers remove the woman. Understand necessary legal p'ceedings took place first. Woman visibly upset pic.twitter.com/26E7GyWTeS— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
The woman, Jaki, tells me she was told she was committing a s14 public order offence. She denies committing the offence
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
It's gone quiet but tensions remain high. EDL members preparing the cross the street to the memorial. pic.twitter.com/NVMSDHwMsd
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
EDL members have laid a wreath and held 2 minutes' silence. They have now set off down Queen Street.
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 22, 2015
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