Police appeal after Tommy Robinson election event descends into violence

Police are appealing for anyone with footage or images of yesterday’s violence in Oldham during the Tommy Robinson election event to contact them.

Police are appealing for anyone with footage or images of yesterday’s violence in Oldham during the Tommy Robinson election event to contact them.

The controversial figure, who is standing in this Thursday’s European elections as an independent, has been touring the North West and yesterday arrived in the Limeside area of Oldham.

But the visit descended into violence with at first eggs, then bricks, being thrown as opposing factions clashed.

Police say they are determined to bring those responsible for the violence, many of whom are not thought to be from Oldham, to justice.

In a statement today Chief Superintendent Neil Evans, Territorial Commander for Oldham, said: “Today, I know people are still feeling the effects of the disturbance that happened yesterday evening and there’s a lot of speculation and ill-informed comments on social media.

“When any type of event escalates in this way, it’s extremely frightening and upsetting for people in the local area and for the majority who act in a respectable manner.

“For the small few who ruin this for everyone else, let me be clear; you can expect to be identified, investigated by us and brought in for questioning.

“Everyone should be able to exercise their right to free speech but when people hide behind this to hurl objects and abuse and act in such a disgusting way, there simply is no excuse. 

“Since last night, we’ve been working alongside our partners and people in the community and will continue to do so over the coming days. I understand that people will still have concerns around this and while our investigation continues, officers will be patrolling the area so feel free to approach them with any concerns you may have.  

“Speculation around what happened is proving unhelpful but if you do have footage or images that could help our investigation, please send them directly to us.

“No-one deserves this sort of thing to be happening in their hometown and I’m determined to – with the support of our partners and you, the people of Oldham – bring those responsible to justice.”

Anyone with footage or images is encouraged to send them to scd.cctv@gmp.police.uk

Violence broke out after hundreds gathered as Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League and whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and members of the Muslim Defence League came face to face.

Large numbers of police were drafted in and a number of GMP vehicles damaged in the incident.

No one was seriously hurt in the melee.

In a video post on social media Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon said: “We don’t need people coming to our town trying to divide us for their own political agenda. We need to come together and be the best Oldham that we can be.

“It’s horrible to see our town being used for hate and division when our own future is a shared one, long after the circus has left town.”