Another ‘peaceful’ EDL protest

The first two English Defence League members charged after a town-centre demo have appeared in court. Peter Craven, 28 and Michael Riley 23, both from Hull, each admitted stealing a pool ball and possessing an offensive weapon.

The men admitted they were in Halifax for the EDL protest that engulfed the town centre on April 16. They were part of a 16-man group who left the main organisation and moved to the Beehive and Cross Keys pub in King Cross Street near Park ward – an area police were trying to shield from EDL members.

In the pub, EDL members chanted racist songs, snapped pool cues and hunted through waste bins for bottles. Police arrested the men outside the pub shortly after they left.

They will be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court July 19.

Halifax Courier, 16 June 2011