Police officer injured in protest violence

The officer suffered a dislocated shoulder as EDL supporters broke away from a static protest to invade the grounds of the Eureka children’s museum and attacked officers, who at first appeared to be outnumbered until extra riot police moved in.

The injured man is believed to have been hit by a rock but returned to duty after treatment.

Saturday’s demonstration resulted in six arrests but a police chief promised to study footage of the violence to identify and arrest further troublemakers.

Hundreds of officers, many of them in riot gear, were on duty, with reinforcements drafted in from neighbouring forces.

Around 450 EDL supporters and 70 counter-demonstrators were present.

Several coaches of EDL supporters, many from the Midlands, swelled the protest.

Town centre businesses, including pubs, lost thousands of pounds in takings as they closed.

Politicians and police praised locals for remaining calm.

Deputy Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift said: “This was quite a provocative event but people have not responded to that.”

Council chief executive Owen Williams added: “I’m pleased and as proud as punch at the response of the community in the face of some really difficult circumstances.”

The cost of the policing operation is likely to run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The arrests included a 17-year-old from Bradford who was charged with assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour.

Two teenagers, aged 14 and 16 and from Bradford, were arrested for public order offences but released without charge. A 21-year-old from Bradford was charged with possessing an offensive weapon.