EDL Anti-Muslim Rally: Violence In Aarhus As Extreme Far Left Clashes With Demonstration

Violence At EDL Rally After Clashes With Far-Left Anti-Racism Demonstration

Violence broke out at an anti-Islamic rally in Aarhus, Denmark after far left groups clashed with the rally's far right group organisers, the English Defence League.

The EDL were staging an anti-Islamic rally in the city of Aarhus in the hope of building a comprehensive pan-European movement.

In a bid to "build stronger ties" with other far right groups across Europe, the EDL proposed the formation of an European Defence League, fighting against the "Islamification of Europe."

Although the anti-racism rally taking place in protest of EDL's intentions was intended to be staged separately, at one point the two demonstrations met.

Thousands had turned out in opposition to the far right supporters, of which there were only around 100. Some of the more extreme far left supporters pulled up paving slabs, and hurled them at the anti-Islamist demonstrators. As broken bottles and stones were thrown, a policeman was injured trying to control the crowds.

A memorandum on the EDL website stated before the march: "We are paralysed by moral relativism, political correctness, cowardly appeasement, strict self-censorship and self-loathing

"We are committed to countering extremism, wherever it be found.

"Individual Muslims may well have plenty to offer, but there is much about Islamic culture that we cannot stay silent about."

Although support for the anti-Muslim group was sparse in Aarhus, Matthew Goodwin, an expert in far right groups, said that taking the strategic step to unite European support is a significant one.

After an anti-racism concert in Aarhus last week, the mayor's office said that extremist groups like the EDL represent "everything we want to distance ourselves from”.

Did you take part in either rally? Do you know someone who did? Email pictures or contact details to felicity.morse@huffingtonpost.com

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