Anti-fascists and British National Party members arrested after Liverpool clash

An investigation is underway after anti-fascist campaigners and British National Party supporters clashed in Liverpool.

Ten people were arrested following a violent fracas in Church Street on Saturday morning. The far-right party was collecting signatures on the city’s busiest shopping street when trouble flared. At around 10.45am, anti-fascist demonstrators and the BNP came head-to-head in aggressive scenes.

Three women and three men, who were holding a counter-rally against the political party, were detained. They were held on suspicion of criminal damage, affray and assault and taken to police stations in Merseyside. The women – 23, 22 and 21, from Aigburth, Toxteth and the city centre – and the men – 26, 25 and 24, from Birkenhead, Kensington and the city centre – were later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Two days later, three BNP activists were apprehended on suspicion of criminal damage and affray. The suspects, identified by the far-right group itself, are Peter Tierney, 53, from Hale Village, his brother Andrew, 44, from Huyton, and a woman, 59, from Wirral, were all released on bail. A man in his 50s or 60s was arrested shortly after the incident but will face no further action.

Both parties gave different accounts of the disturbance.

Liverpool Echo