Six held after debates centre demo

Left-wing protesters are halted by police after scuffles near the centre hosting leader election debates
12 April 2012

Tempers flared outside the General Election party leaders' debate as a number of protesters were arrested.

Officers on horseback, dogs and police equipped with riot shields held back the 150-strong crowd, just metres away from the arts centre hosting the televised debate in Bristol.

The mass was made up of numerous groups - including Palestinian campaigners, anti-war protesters and, earlier in the evening, a few members of the right-wing English Defence League (EDL).

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed six people had been arrested for public order offences.

She said: "We had planned for peaceful protests and there have been multiple protests in a number of locations across the city. They have been largely peaceful and compliant with our requests."

Eyewitnesses reported seeing EDL members hitting cameras and shouting.

They were overheard chanting: "There's only one Maggie Thatcher."

Some protesters were seen waving pictures of the party leaders with offensive language written across their faces.

Placards and banners were waved with "stop the war", "troops home" and "Bankers, politicians, fat cats, we won't pay for their crisis" on them.

Gordon Brown was met with a chorus of booing from the protesters as he pulled up to the Arnolfini arts centre. As the Prime Minister got out of his car, the jeering escalated and demonstrators goaded him over megaphones.

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