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Strict conditions imposed on Democratic Football Lads Alliance march to prevent 'serious disorder'

Henry Austin
Saturday 13 October 2018 01:30 BST
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Democratic Football Lads' Alliance march in central London turns violent against police

Police have imposed conditions on marches and rallies planned in London this weekend by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance and a counter demonstrations to prevent “serious disorder and serious disruption to the life of the community.”

Strict time limits and routes will be enforced by London’s Metropolitan Police, which warned that failure to adhere to the conditions “may lead to arrest and prosecution.”

“We police hundreds of events and demonstrations each year and we always facilitate peaceful protest,” said chief superintendent Andy Walker. “We also have a duty to ensure the community can go about its daily business not unduly impacted by demonstrations and marches, which is why we have taken the decision to impose these conditions.”

He added: “If you want to protest on Saturday we ask that you do so peacefully, whatever your view. We will adopt a robust intervention policy for anyone who attends and is intent on violence and disorder, or is in breach of these conditions.”

A march on the streets of Sunderland last year turned violent when members of the group, burst through a police line separating them from counter protesters. Three people were arrested.

Ukip leader Gerard Batten was later criticised by his predecessor Nigel Farage for addressing a crowd at the rally.

He claimed that the Prophet Muhammad was "a war lord who took many sex slaves, which is permissible under Islamic culture. He married a six-year-old and consummated the marriage when she was nine years old", according to Sky News which attended the rally.

Originally called the Football Lads Alliance, the group was set up by a football hooligan in response to the wave of terror attacks in the UK last year.

They hoped to unite supporters from different clubs against Islam. The group has since renamed itself the Democratic Football Lads Alliance.

Its Facebook page has been criticised for racist content.

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