Two men jailed for part in Leeds demonstration
They were involved last weekend.
Last updated 9th Aug 2024
Two men have been jailed for an attack on "pro-EDL" protesters after rival demonstrations in Leeds city centre on Saturday.
Leeds Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of a group of Asian men kicking and punching a smaller group of four white men, one of which was draped in a Union flag and wearing a Union flag mask.
Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds, and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds, both admitted affray earlier this week.
On Friday, Ali was jailed for 20 months and Ghafoor was jailed for 18 months, with Ghafoor being ordered to serve an additional 12 months for breaching of an unrelated suspended sentence.
Graham O'Sullivan, representing Ali, said his client was provoked by "Islamophobic threats and abuse" from the group of white men, including comments like "f*** Allah" and the use of racial slurs.
Jailing the pair, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl KC, said: "This was a group attack involving in excess of 10 men in circumstances of a heightened state of public concern and anxiety to which each of you have contributed."