Leeds, Sheffield and Barnsley men in court over EDL violence

The defendants were arrested as part of a nationwide operation by West Midlands Police to trace people involved in violence in the city centre in July 2013.

The appeal appeared on BBC’s Crimewatch programme in January, which led to several people coming forward and dozens of calls into the incident room naming people suspected of involvement.

Following subsequent enquiries the investigation team made a series of arrests up and down the country.

Ten men charged with violent disorder and will appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court next Tuesday.

A further ten men will appear before Birmingham Magistrates two days later.

A total of 31 people have been identified from the images of 57 people released during last month’s appeal. Six men have been arrested and released on police bail pending further enquiries.

A team of detectives are working to identify the remaining suspects.

EDL supporters gathered in Centenary Square for the July 20 protest, whilst people staging a counter demonstration met in Chamberlain Square. In total, there were around 2,000 people on the protests.

The 20 charged with violent disorder come from across the country, including Stockport, Mansfield, Essex and Middlesbrough.

The men from Yorkshire are Ashley Rowland, 24, of Adwick Road, Barnsley; James Harrington, 29, of Kentmere Avenue, Leeds, and Joel Smith, 23, of Lupton Road, Sheffield.