Wootton Bassett fury at today's march rumours
4:21pm Sunday 10th January 2010 in News By Joanne Moore
Townspeople in Wootton Bassett have reacted angrily to fears the threatened extremist Islamic march was to happen in the town today.
Rumours spread that people supporting the march were on their way to the town from London and some of those opposed gathered in pubs in the town to protest.
Wiltshire councillor Allison Bucknell, whose husband Steve is Mayor of Wootton Bassett said: "There was a rumour something was going to happen so the police had to have a presence in the town.
"But it has all come to nothing and all it has done is cost the tax payer a lot of money."
She said a group of people described as football supporters had gathered to counter any march.
Coun Bucknell said: "If this march was to go ahead ordinary Wootton Bassett people would close their doors and stay inside but the problem is there are plenty of other people who say they want to defend Wootton Bassett and there is where the trouble could start.
"It would be far better to ignore the extremists altogether."
She praised the handful of muslim people who live in Wootton Bassett who have spoken out eloquently to put over the views of moderate Islamics.
"What they have said has been very sensible. They are part of the community and know Wootton Bassett but this threat of an extremist march doesn't help anyone.
"They have had their five minutes of publicity they should leave it alone now."
Wiltshire Police today wanted to say little about the rumours. A statement said the force was aware of a march happening imminently and said it was prepared to react.
It is understood overtime will have to be paid to officers whose shift should have ended at 4pm but were told to remain on standby.
One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We are here today because we heard through social networking sites that the march would take place today. "It may have been a wasted journey for all of us, and if that is the case, we want to say that we will be here again next time we hear that it is taking place." A police spokesman said the operation was being led by Superintendant Gavin Williams. Police in cars have been in the town since later morning after information was picked up on Facebook but no riot vans were in position. These would have been ready if needed. The people who turned up in the town to protest against the march were from the English Defence League.
Comments(58)
exrock
says...
4:33pm Sun 10 Jan 10
PC McGary ..452
WBExpat
says...
5:05pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Wootton Bassett does not need 'protecting' as the EDL claim to be doing. It may not be a very diverse town, but having lived there for 19 years I can say the community is one full of decent, humble and welcoming people. These EDL members cannot profess to possess such characteristics in the slightest.
To me, EDL members - who the man refusing to reveal his identity appears to be a member of - are cowards of the first degree. Why not put a name behind a quote if you profess to be doing the town and 'a favour', as many on the Facebook groups argue they would be doing?
mclarke1987
says...
5:37pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Again someone comments blaming the BNP, all they have done is mentioned the rumors they haven't said "this is happening all rush over and cause trouble" so don't mis-interpret their actions, they have done no different to most media outlets who picked up on the rumors.
The fact remains until Islam4Uk are dealt with things like this will continue to happen, I wouldn't be surprised if it was them that leaked the rumor in the first place since their entire march was all about gaining more pr attention.
I feel sorry that the people of WB have been brought into this but please can we direct the blame to those who deserve it and stop being so Politically Correct about things.
WBExpat
says...
5:46pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Triton
says...
5:51pm Sun 10 Jan 10
garychi
says...
5:51pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat
says...
5:58pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Anyone who thinks Sharia law is taking over in this country is bonkers anyway!
TSK
says...
6:04pm Sun 10 Jan 10
There's nothing wrong with a protest or a demonstration, it's a right we should hold sacred. However, when those protesting or demonstrating descend into racism, ignorance and discrimination then they taint us all, especially for what this town stands for.
I didn't stop to see if these vile, thuggish cowards were members of the BNP or the EDL, use of racist words (ironically beginning with B, N and P) showed them for national shame that they are.
These are the people that have been breaking "Broken Britain" and don't deserve the honour of calling themselves British. Wootton Bassett is better than this and they shouldn't be welcome here.
NPearce
says...
6:05pm Sun 10 Jan 10
I witnessed SEVERAL riot vans. I was there in support of this march NOT taking place rumour or no rumour along with my two young children. I find it disgusting that good honest law abiding citizens that have come together because they feel so strongly about something are being tarred by this. How about a bit of political correctness towards us? Or even better, just some correctness!!
It's about time authorities spoke the truth!
WBExpat
says...
6:06pm Sun 10 Jan 10
socialistparty
says...
6:12pm Sun 10 Jan 10
The EDL and Islam4UK have no respect for the soldiers, their families or the local residents of Wootton Bassett.
These groups are full of ingnorance and hatred and feed off each other.
Triton
says...
6:21pm Sun 10 Jan 10
exrock
says...
6:27pm Sun 10 Jan 10
"Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result."
If only !!!
mancutd
says...
6:50pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat
says...
6:58pm Sun 10 Jan 10
TSK
says...
7:07pm Sun 10 Jan 10
mancutd wrote:Neil,
Spot on garychi. I was there today not as an EDL or BNP memeber. I was there to take a stand against the minority of so called Islamic fundamentalists who seem fit to ride rough shod over every believe this once great country of ours stands for. I totally agree that Wooton Bassett should never be subjected to this. But the continual failure of our goverment and powers that be have left the ordinary person with no alternative but to take a stand for ourselfs and show a message of defiance that these sick morons who sponge off the taxpayer , preach hatred against the western civilisation and have the nerve to want to march in Wooton Bassett have no right to be there or even in our country once and for all! And No i am not ashamed to reveal my name Neil Sutton.
We should show a message of defiance that these sick morons who sponge off the taxpayer , preach hatred against the western civilisation and have the nerve to want to march in Wooton Bassett, regardless of whether they are extremist Muslims or rediculous cretins from the EDL and BNP.
If you take a stand against one and not another then you are just a sad little hypocrite.
WB MUM
says...
7:25pm Sun 10 Jan 10
I had been told that the English Defence League were a bunch of trouble making thugs but after talking to several today they were all polite and friendly and just seemed like normal people who have had enough of our government doing nothing about the Islamic extremists in our midsts. Thank you again, Wootton Basset Mum x
exrock
says...
7:26pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Please remind me to invite you and yours to our next 63 Sqdn. RAF Regiment reunion dinner...we'd have some recollections that would have your hair standing on end son !
WBExpat
says...
7:28pm Sun 10 Jan 10
exrock
says...
7:28pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WB MUM wrote:Thank you WB Mum....if only ...
I just wanted to say thank you to all who came to Wootton Basset today to stand against these Islamic extremists who wish to dishonour our war heroes.
I had been told that the English Defence League were a bunch of trouble making thugs but after talking to several today they were all polite and friendly and just seemed like normal people who have had enough of our government doing nothing about the Islamic extremists in our midsts. Thank you again, Wootton Basset Mum x
Lee John Barnes
says...
7:52pm Sun 10 Jan 10
As usual they are full of lies.
1) The Islamists were on their way to WB and were stopped and arrested on the motorway by the police. The only reason the march did not go ahead was because the people that turned up registered their opposition and the police decided to stop the march asa result.
2) The ONLY racists in WB today are those dribbling leftist idiots like WBexpat and TSK that believe the ONLY people who do not have a right to register their disgust at the Islamists are those who are white, Christians or black people who regard the Islamists as terrorists. The UAF have been busy this week issuing death threats to the woman in Kent who set up the anti-march facebook site.
Those like WB expat and TSK are the lackeys of the Islamists as they support their right to march but call anyone who dares protest as a racist.
http://www.kentnews.
co.uk/kent-news/Mum_
s-death-threats-over
-Wootton-Bassett-cam
paign-newsinkent3159
9.aspx?news=local
Note that the police say in the article above that the people issuing the death threats were 'anti-fascists'.
3) There were no racist chants, so TSK and WBexpat have to lie about the demonstraters in order to cover this fact. There were no racist chants, no racist abuse and no problems at the demonstration. Unlike the UAF and the SWP who issue death threats to people to defend the Islamists the demonstrators are law abiding.
4) For those who say only local people should be allowed to demonstrate against the Islamists in WB, get real. The lads and lasses being killed by the Islamists in Afghanistan are from all over Britain and therefore we all have a right to attend at WB and demonstrate what we think about those scum in our country who support their murderers. This is our country and if we wish to demonstrate anywhere in our country we will. Spare me your pathetic drivel that we should stay away. Its our kids who are in the army, our family members in Afghanistan and if we wish to attend at WB to resist the Islamists then we **** well will. No snivelling politically correct leftists and whining Tories will stop us.
5) There is nothing more repugnant than a Tory politician attacking the EDL for their demonstration. It was a Tory government that allowed the Islamists to come into the UK as a way to gain money and contracts from the Saudis in the 1980's and 1990's. At the same time the Tories under Thatcher were supplying Saddam Hussein with his Falluja 2 chemical weapons plant that provided him with the gas that killed the Kurds. The Tories created Londonistan and New Labour has continued this policy with its open door policy on immigration and outting the rights of Islamists before British people.
6) The pathetic attempt by the leftists to draw and equivalent between the BNP / EDL and Islamists is farsical rubbish. The BNP and EDL do not support bombings, terrorism or the murder of British troops. Those left wing scum that repeat this lie are simply the supporters of the Islamists, and doing their work for them.
I had no intention of attending WB to oppose the Islamists if they turned up at any time, but I will now.
How dare anyone tell me I cannot demonstrate in my own country to defend British troops from Islamist scum.
The heroes in their coffins being returned through WB come from every corner of Britain, they are our kin and friends, and therefore we all have the right and duty to attend anywhere at anytime to defend our nation from those Islamists if we wish too.
WB MUM
says...
7:58pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat wrote:Please don't listen to WBExpat, he is obviously a troll and he does not speak for the majority of Wootton Bassett. Thanks again EDL and all who attended to defend our town x
Wootton Bassett Mum, the EDL were not acting like the thugs they are because Islam4UK were not there. Had the march taken place no doubt they would have been violent and chanting racist slogans as they have done before. Don't be fooled!
mancutd
says...
8:15pm Sun 10 Jan 10
lel1
says...
8:22pm Sun 10 Jan 10
EDL are not a racist organisation indeed we have blacks/browns/white within it's ranks all of which get along very well together. EDL even have a sub group called Black and White Unite does that show EDL as racist, I think not.
EDL are against the Militant Extremists, the adoption of any Sharia Law in this country and the wearing of the burkha, hijab and nijab. Our own laws have suited us very well since the Magna Carta and we do not need any other courts/laws except what is in our Statute book. We do not want people wearing the burkha etc. and segregating themselves from society when we cannot wear helmets/hoodies/caps etc. in many establishments why should they be excluded. Is it a case of one rule for them and one rule for us.
As far as I am aware the BNP were not at the village today and the EDL left the town as soon as the NF turned up as they did not wish to be associated with them.
As for Islam4UK not turning up was it a mirage then the coaches that were kept in the local Sainsburys?
Do try to get your facts correct and not be so prejudiced and biased on a subject you obviously know nothing about. I suggest you check the EDL out on their website and see for yourself. You are the type of person that England should not be proud of.
ARRYLAD
says...
8:24pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Fact is there was 4 coach loads of islamic terrorists heading for WB.
The EDL are made up of British people and serving soldiers, who have had enough of islamic nutters spewing their hatred in our country.
Time the government started to govern and sort out this threat.
Just remember this anjem choudary and his followers are anti British, all are claiming benefits from a system they hate,choudarys claim is worth £25000 pa.
As a nation we must be totally mad.
Well done to everybody who turned up and well done EDL.
http://www.englishde
fenceleague.org/
lel1
says...
8:29pm Sun 10 Jan 10
isright
says...
8:34pm Sun 10 Jan 10
I am Ex-service & now have a Professional career. I too would attend any protest march through your Town in a peaceful manner - showing Support, Respect & Honour to you & the Fallen's Families.
I have no political agenda, no intended abuse to give. I, My Wife & My children would stand shoulder to shoulder with you. We watch your actions on each any every repatriation - admiring your strength.
Please don't associate all outsiders to WB as being trouble-causers. Your Town has many admirers from afar.
Respect to you all - Mike & Family.
clintv1
says...
8:42pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat wrote:wbexpat and tsk are you for real?? or are you really george galloway in disguise? you and people like you are the real reason this country is in a mess.......we are living in times where you blame everyone except the people that should be blamed......namely the government and their left wing supporters like you! if they and you werent so PC we would never of heard of these extremists or YOU! sadly WB is in the spotlight because of the extremists plans to march there!!!! we ordinary british citizens have had enough of walking on egg shells for PC idiots and people like YOU and we feel no one else in this country is going to do anything for us..... so it is time we stood up for ourselves and our children......and fought the the PC brigade and apologists like you and get this country doing what it should be doing.....LOOKING AFTER ALL OF US ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD not pandering to the likes of you and minority groups.
Why does it seem that immigrants are the only ones criticised for 'sponging off the taxpayer'? There are far more British people doing such a deplorable thing who also preach hatred - ironically against immigrants wbo are used as scapegoats, but who seem never to be condemned.
Clint
Home Boy
says...
9:03pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Triton wrote:Natural Selection?
I wonder what would happen if you put the EDL and Islam4UK in the same room and said "just get on with it"? They both have cowardly actions and do not speak for the people who they claim to represent.
ozcat
says...
9:03pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Home Boy
says...
9:10pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat
says...
9:17pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Home Boy wrote:Let me say that I am no member of any far left group, merely somebody with political views in the centre of the spectrum. Just because I abhor far right-wing groups and politics for their ignorance, arrogance and immaturity, have I been labelled an extreme leftist.
I think it's time G&H got rid of the comments off this page. It's obviously been hijacked by far right and far left groups. Such as shame. I just hope that if something happens in Bassett the BBC take some responsibility for politicising it
lel1
says...
9:21pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Home Boy
says...
9:22pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat wrote:I wasn't referring to you at all. I'm just fed up of people from the far left and (more to the point in this case) extreme right hijacking these message boards and pretending to be either locals or experts on what the locals think. The truth is that none of us real locals want any of them here and certainly don't want them speaking on our behalf!
Home Boy wrote:Let me say that I am no member of any far left group, merely somebody with political views in the centre of the spectrum. Just because I abhor far right-wing groups and politics for their ignorance, arrogance and immaturity, have I been labelled an extreme leftist.
I think it's time G&H got rid of the comments off this page. It's obviously been hijacked by far right and far left groups. Such as shame. I just hope that if something happens in Bassett the BBC take some responsibility for politicising it
.
The idea of people throwing pork or bacon at muslims in our High Street, as ozcat aludes to, makes me feel physically sick
Home Boy
says...
9:26pm Sun 10 Jan 10
lel1 wrote:Excuse me? No I'm not UAF or any other group, just a local that doesn't want any these childish scraps being fought out in my town. Surely there's a school playground somewhere that would be much appropriate?
@Home boy UAF are we then and don't like it when you see the truth in black and white. If you put EDL members in a room with Islam4UK not likely to happen is it. Cowardly actions, would you like to enlighten us on what cowardly actions the EDL has shown because I can't see one. They go about protesting quite innocently which is their right under the Freedom of Expression Article 10. It is always the UAF that turn up at their demos to cause as much trouble as possible. The EDL 100% support our troops, as does WB, and EDL always hold a 2 minute silence for the troops which is disrupted by the UAF shouting through loudspeakers. A 2 minutes silence was scheduled to be held at 1630 today but due to the NF turning up the EDL pulled out at WB as they didn't wish to be associated with them. On the EDL Website and Facebook page this 2 minute silence was observed there were no postings or chat held. You are a disgrace to your nation.
cichlid10
says...
9:29pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Eric Hoffer
WBExpat
says...
9:43pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Interesting quote considering many in the pictures on this site seem to have their faces covered to protect their identities.
Yes, it's a cold time of year, but from other pictures in newspapers and videos I have seen of EDL members many seem to adopt this. If the EDL are campaigning against the Burkha surely they should not conceal their faces, although they seem to do it with hoodies and balaclavas?
clintv1
says...
9:47pm Sun 10 Jan 10
clint
isright
says...
10:15pm Sun 10 Jan 10
k/1/hi/uk/8451014.st
m
the BBC online is reporting that ISLAM4UK has cancelled their march through Wootton Bassett.
Sky News & GMTV too
lel1
says...
10:15pm Sun 10 Jan 10
ARRYLAD
says...
10:18pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat wrote:Alot of EDL members live in areas like luton, which have a large number of islamic nutters walking the streets attacking white people.
"EDL are against ... the wearing of the burkha, hijab and nijab." Interesting quote considering many in the pictures on this site seem to have their faces covered to protect their identities. Yes, it's a cold time of year, but from other pictures in newspapers and videos I have seen of EDL members many seem to adopt this. If the EDL are campaigning against the Burkha surely they should not conceal their faces, although they seem to do it with hoodies and balaclavas?
So some members like to cover their faces,as they dont want to put their familys at risk of attacks.
Im pritty sure they dont wear them shopping or for going to work.
WBExpat are you living in the UK?
WBExpat
says...
10:23pm Sun 10 Jan 10
ARRYLAD wrote:I live in London. The Expat part of the name comes from the fact I moved from Wootton Bassett only recently, having lived there the majority of my life.
WBExpat wrote:Alot of EDL members live in areas like luton, which have a large number of islamic nutters walking the streets attacking white people.
"EDL are against ... the wearing of the burkha, hijab and nijab." Interesting quote considering many in the pictures on this site seem to have their faces covered to protect their identities. Yes, it's a cold time of year, but from other pictures in newspapers and videos I have seen of EDL members many seem to adopt this. If the EDL are campaigning against the Burkha surely they should not conceal their faces, although they seem to do it with hoodies and balaclavas?
So some members like to cover their faces,as they dont want to put their familys at risk of attacks.
Im pritty sure they dont wear them shopping or for going to work.
WBExpat are you living in the UK?
garychi
says...
10:31pm Sun 10 Jan 10
ARRYLAD
says...
10:31pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat wrote:An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence.
ARRYLAD wrote:I live in London. The Expat part of the name comes from the fact I moved from Wootton Bassett only recently, having lived there the majority of my life.WBExpat wrote: "EDL are against ... the wearing of the burkha, hijab and nijab." Interesting quote considering many in the pictures on this site seem to have their faces covered to protect their identities. Yes, it's a cold time of year, but from other pictures in newspapers and videos I have seen of EDL members many seem to adopt this. If the EDL are campaigning against the Burkha surely they should not conceal their faces, although they seem to do it with hoodies and balaclavas?Alot of EDL members live in areas like luton, which have a large number of islamic nutters walking the streets attacking white people. So some members like to cover their faces,as they dont want to put their familys at risk of attacks. Im pritty sure they dont wear them shopping or for going to work. WBExpat are you living in the UK?
lel1
says...
10:41pm Sun 10 Jan 10
ARRYLAD
says...
10:46pm Sun 10 Jan 10
WBExpat
says...
10:59pm Sun 10 Jan 10
I have never attended an EDL march nor met anyone from the group knowingly. Maybe not all of them are violent but the fact many of their demonstrations have reportedly ended in clashes suggests - to me at least - they are an unsavoury group.
Nimby's r us !
says...
11:09pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Home Boy
says...
11:15pm Sun 10 Jan 10
ARRYLAD
says...
11:17pm Sun 10 Jan 10
And the policing bill would be slashed.
How come ive never heared of the UAF counter demonstrating against radical islam.
johnmaclean
says...
7:45pm Mon 11 Jan 10
There's no accounting for taste.
Pieman2010
says...
9:37am Tue 12 Jan 10
lel1 wrote:Wow.....expat doesn't agree with your opinion so he much be a muslim 'nutter'. If that's the case then Bassett must be an Islamic state.
He's probably a Muslim then that's his expat bit, he definitely sounds like one of them, not the average Muslim I hasten to add but one of the 'nutters' as you refer to them arrylad
Home Boy
says...
10:08am Tue 12 Jan 10
johnmaclean wrote:There's been no welcoming any of these groups with open arms from anyone I know of. The vast majority are keeping well away from Anjem Choudary, EDL, BNP, UAF or anyone else who wishes to use the town as a political football. It's interesting to note that a number of the "locals" claiming to support these groups are still having trouble spelling Wootton Bassett!
You could write the script yourself. BNP, Neo Nazis, EDL converge on this town. They're welcomed with open arms by the natives.
There's no accounting for taste.
.
Whilst each repatriation is a somber affair, it was reassuring to see that yesterday's was not affected in any way by the groups from outside Bassett trying to use the town.
johnmaclean
says...
12:33pm Tue 12 Jan 10
It's simply not true. Every other city, or town has put up opposition demos against the Nazi EDL/BNP (the town in question will go down as the first to accept their presence un-opposed)
The proposed Muslim march was at best a side show. It was never going to happen. The broader picture is about the villians who waged an illegal war.
When the panto like Iraq Enquiry ends, people like Bliar will walk away to write their memoirs and become richer. The people who pulled the triggers will be recieved with jing-istic bunting. The whole thing is obscene.
We'll rightfully be percieved as callous and unjust.
Pieman2010
says...
1:40pm Tue 12 Jan 10
johnmaclean wrote:A group of people arrive unannounced on a sunday afternoon & gather in the high street, the police turn up to control the situation & after a while the group leave. Did the council put up swastika bunting? NO. Did the local residents gather and watch the group parade up & down the street? NO THEY DID NOT. To suggest that the town accepted their presence is plain wrong. Get your facts straight.
Home Boy
It's simply not true. Every other city, or town has put up opposition demos against the Nazi EDL/BNP (the town in question will go down as the first to accept their presence un-opposed)
The proposed Muslim march was at best a side show. It was never going to happen. The broader picture is about the villians who waged an illegal war.
When the panto like Iraq Enquiry ends, people like Bliar will walk away to write their memoirs and become richer. The people who pulled the triggers will be recieved with jing-istic bunting. The whole thing is obscene.
We'll rightfully be percieved as callous and unjust.
johnmaclean
says...
4:40pm Tue 12 Jan 10
You clearly didn't read what was said.
Nevertheless, whilst the town inquestion were in a stew about a Muslim march which had no chance of happening, people like Bliar and Campbell get less publicity for war crimes.
It happens so easily and often. The media deflect peoples minds from important issues and stir up racist hysteria. End result, they walk off grinning.
Home Boy
says...
5:04pm Tue 12 Jan 10
exrock says...
4:29pm Sun 10 Jan 10
Hello caller........
I wish to report an upcoming civil disturbance
When is this going to happen ?
Sometime after 16.00 Sunday...did you get that...after 16.00 ?
OK...got that...o/t rates WILL apply...over !