EGGS and bricks have been thrown during a Tommy Robinson election campaign event in Merseyside, as protestors and counter-demonstrators clashed.
A van, part of Robinson’s European election campaign team, was pelted with eggs as it arrived on Douglas Place in Bootle, and bricks were later lobbed from the crowds. Police say no-one was seriously injured.
Police officers moved demonstrators who were sitting in the road as supporters of Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – watched and chanted at them.
Eggs hit the windscreen of the van and a bottle of what appeared to be milkshake was thrown as scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police.
About 50 police officers were on the scene and used powers under the Public Order Act to separate the two sets of demonstrators.
Robinson supporters chanted: “Tommy’s going to be your MEP.”
Counter-demonstrators held placards saying: “Oppose Tommy Robinson, don’t let the racists divide us.”
When Robinson arrived, he walked in through the back of the cul-de-sac, escorted by police officers. He was greeted by cheers from his own supporters while counter-protesters booed and shouted “fascist scum”.
Robinson spent about an hour at the event addressing his supporters, before being escorted away by police.
Officers, including a number of dog handlers, stepped in to separate demonstrators on nearby Derby Road after Robinson left.
Meanwhile, a Ukip candidate has been pelted with milkshake for the fourth time in a single week.
Carl Benjamin, a far-right activist with a large following on YouTube, was targeted while touring Salisbury ahead of the EU election.
Twitter user @Stegsythedog posted a photo of the milkshake-covered candidate with the caption “Dear racist vile human welcome to Salisbury”.
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