Cops Arrest 179 for Planned Occupy Attack

Far-right threatened to burn down tents on Armistice Day
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 12, 2011 5:19 PM CST
London Police Arrest Far-Right Protesters for Planning Occupy Attack
British police officers scuffle with members of the English Defense League in London, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

London police arrested 179 right-wing protesters yesterday for planning an Armistice Day attack on Occupiers camped in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Guardian reports. How did cops know of the English Defense League's planned assault? EDL members made it pretty clear on Facebook, where they threatened to burn down Occupy tents if they remained there on Armistice Day.

What's more, EDL members had tried entering the Occupy camp this week, and wrote a statement that was read aloud to Occupiers: "They called us all sorts of names in the statement and said we should leave 'their' church and stop violating their religion," says an Occupy protester. But no charges were filed against the EDL members; three were let go on police bail pending further inquiries, and the rest simply walked. (More English Defense League stories.)

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