VIDEO: Protestors disrupt soldiers' homecoming march
Scuffles break out at The Poachers' parade through town centre
Ugly scenes marred the Luton homecoming parade of soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment yesterday, as protestors attempted to disrupt the march.
Hundreds of well-wishers lined George Street to cheer on the battalion, nicknamed The Poachers, who returned from their second tour of duty in Iraq at the end of last year.
But as the procession of 200 soldiers approached the Town Hall, a band of about 20 men in Islamic dress, carrying placards labelling the soldiers 'war criminals', began shouting at the parade.
Scuffles broke out as police separated the group from an angry crowd who ran over and began hurling abuse at the men, shouting "scum" at them.
The men were then corraled into George Street by police officers, who had to calm angry crowd members intent on venting their fury.
One onlooker, Leagrave builder Dan Dexter, 25, said: "I think it's ridiculous. They were trying to storm the square. The lads are doing a great job out in Iraq - I've got four friends out there in the Marines."
Another, 70-year-old Ronald Clarke, said he was "disgusted" at the protestors' behaviour. "It's not the soldiers' fault they had to go to Iraq, people should be down here supporting them," he said.
But High Town resident Enayath Kabir said he didn't see anything wrong with the protest. He said: "I think it's fair enough. It was a peaceful protest."
Police then moved the protestors to an area outside the Arndale Centre while inspections of the parade took place in St George's Square.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's Luton News and Dunstable Gazette, on sale at 45p.
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Weather for Luton
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
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