Police make four arrests at English Defence League rally, as far-right group is accused of 'trying to divide Rotherham'

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

English Defence League (EDL) protesters have attacked police in Rotherham while demonstrating over the recent revelations about child sexual exploitation in the town.

Three men linked to the demonstration were arrested ahead of the march on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and remain in custody. A fourth man from Rotherham was also arrested on suspicion of committing a public order offence.

Police erected 10ft (3m) barricades around the town centre, while extra officers were drafted in from around the country.

South Yorkshire police said officers had been "confronted with missiles and barriers" but said no injuries had so far been reported. Some 1,200 protesters were expected to descend on Rotherham, in what has been described as a political exploitation of the recent abuse findings.

The shock report last month said that although the majority of perpetrators were described as "Asian" by victims, some councillors were nervous about identifying the abusers' ethnic origins "for fear of being thought racist".

Weman Bennett of Unite Against Fascism said: "We want justice for the victims, but we don't want racists exploiting it."

Speaking from the organisation's small counter-demonstration, Bennett said most of the violence had been between EDL members themselves. He said: "We're standing with the social workers and families here.

"I've counted three different Nazi groups since I've been here. None of those groups, I believe, have got any interest in truly representing people or developing anything inside Rotherham. In fact, they've been rejected when they've tried to stand in elections. All these people have come to do is try to divide Rotherham.

"Obviously something has got to be done, but the EDL and the BNP are trying to devastate this town."

The EDL's Facebook page for the march said it was holding "a protest against the Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs," and labels Rotherham as the "Islamic paedophile capital of Britain."

Before the protests, the South Yorkshire police commander for Rotherham, Ch Supt Jason Harwin, said: "People in Rotherham and beyond are understandably shocked by the revelations of recent weeks and want to express their concern and anger about what happened.

"We respect an individual's democratic right to protest and additional officers will be on duty to ensure a peaceful and safe protest for all. However, if people are attending with the intention of causing or participate in disorder, they will be identified and dealt with."

• This article was amended on 15 September 2014 to correct a conversion of 10ft to 3m.