EDL leader ‘on hunger strike’ in custody
The EDL says Stephen Lennon is on hunger strike
THE leader of the English Defence League, Stephen Lennon, is on hunger strike and is claiming to be a “political prisoner of the state”, following his arrest after a protest in London on Saturday.
Mr Lennon, who also calls himself Tommy Robinson, was remanded in custody at Luton Magistrates Court this morning (Monday, September 5) after appearing charged with breaching bail conditions imposed on him by Blackburn Magistrates Court, where he is due to go on trial on September 29.
The trial relates to an EDL protest in the Lancashire town on April 2, during which it is alleged he assaulted a man, a charge he denies.
In response to an enquiry from Luton Today, EDL spokesperson Helen Gower said: “Tommy is on a hunger strike and will only be accepting water.”
She added: “He is now a ‘political prisoner’ of the state and isn’t prison food halal, something which Tommy feels very strongly about and campaigns against.”
Mr Lennon addressed EDL members in London on Saturday after travelling to the event disguised in a beard and hat, which the Jewish Chronicle website said was intended to make him look like a rabbi.
A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said he was arrested yesterday afternoon after going to Luton police station by appointment.
The EDL had been banned from marching through Tower Hamlets by Home Secretary Theresa May, and instead held a protest near Aldgate Tube station.
A counter-protest took place in Whitechapel Road, and the Metropolitan Police said a total of 60 people were arrested during the day. There were 16 people initially arrested for a variety of offences including affray, drunk and disorderly and assault on a police officer, and 44 people on a coach were later arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. The vehicle first stopped in Whitechapel Road and it is alleged passengers were involved in an altercation with local youths. Shortly after, the coach broke down outside Stepney Green Underground Station, and a further disturbance took place, a Met Police spokesman said.
>>See the Jewish Chronicle’s video of Mr Lennon dressed as a ‘rabbi’ by clicking on the ‘EDL PROTEST’ link to the right of this story.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Luton
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
POPPYBURNER
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 01:19 PMLet the Twart starve tol death, that about the best possible thing for him.
Dave Catleugh
Friday, September 9, 2011 at 10:19 PM@ Bobby I like it. The EDL. Not far right, just right.
Ralph1
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 05:14 PMNo-one is asking the questions that matter here - what's that thing growing on the end of Tommy's nose in the picture?
Third_Eye_Blind
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 09:30 AMBad news for EDL Fans. The worm has turned. This is no hunger strike. What has actually happened is that Stephen has decided to repent his former racist and facist ways and decided to embrace Islam. THIS IS NO HUNGER STRIKE IT A FAST. But because his Quran reading skills are not up to scratch (hence all his false claims before) he didn't realise you CAN eat before dawn and AFTER sunset, and so what if he is a couple of weeks late and Ramadhan has finished. He is getting practice in for next year.
boyce
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 12:37 AMThere was a peaceful protest at Bedford Prison tonight - not just EDL but people from other pro-democracy groups. There will be protests each afternoon and a larger one on Saturday. Funny that he should be held in the same jail as John Bunyan, 350 years later, for a similar offence!
Abu Tenry
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 02:21 PMIs he really on hunger strike - we only have the word of an 'EDL spokesman' for this? Has his hunger strike been confirmed by the prison authorities?
Churchill
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 04:08 AMEveryone is entitled to their views, its a free country at present. Take in and digest these figures: U.K. MUSLIM POPULATION GROWS 10 TIMES FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE NATION The Muslim population in the U.K. has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in four short years. Muslims multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of the Nation, the research by the Office for National Statistics reveals. These figures were up to 2008 so I suspect in 2011 you could almost double this. Heres some figures from 20045 The total number of Muslims in Great Britain: 2004: 1,087,000 2005: 2,017,000
Churchill
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 04:02 AMEveryone is entitled to their views, its a free country at present. Take in and digest these figures: U.K. MUSLIM POPULATION GROWS 10 TIMES FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE NATION The Muslim population in the U.K. has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in four short years. Muslims multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of the Nation, the research by the Office for National Statistics reveals. These figures were up to 2008 so I suspect in 2011 you could almost double this.
Third_Eye_Blind
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 03:52 PMEDL= A mix between Extremely Dangerous Loons and Erectily Defunct Louts.
Third_Eye_Blind
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 03:17 PMGreat links Maddy. I would also add http:www.edlwatch.com
Maddy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 02:49 PMhttp:exposingon.tumblr.com
Maddy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 02:46 PMhttp:politicalscrapbook.net201108edl-pose-with-guns
Maddy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 02:44 PMActions speak louder than words. Their leaders have strong ties with the far right. This lennon character along with most leaders are convicted criminals one is also a convicted peodophile. The mob they attract are just drunken hooligans. Real nasty horrid bunch on the fringe of our society. In every generation we find such vile cowards (in minority thankfully) looking for someone to blame for their failures and short comings. EDL = Chavs Failures Nazis
essexboy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11:58 AM@ Maddy,the EDL attacked nothing and no one,a WOMAN on that coach was dragged off and beaten by Muslim men,they seem to like attacking EDL women. She had her ribs broken,jaw fractured and internal bruising and you condone it !! Where are all the Muslims that were attacked?? Not one member of the EDL has been arrested for rioting,FACT!! Just because a person does not live in London does not mean that they can't go there you fascist! People like you make me sick,you revel in violence and lies.
Maddy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 12:26 AMI also watched the coach getting attacked - the edl came to attack (not protest) a community - these same yobs were probably involved in the riots. Attacked the police (see news) they are a shrinking group and only have hardened far right BNP - People have a right to protect their communities - these thugs were not even from London. Any National demo that attracts under 1000 is a fail
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.