EDL leaders bailed after attempt to visit spot where Drummer Lee Rigby was killed

Two English Defence League (EDL) leaders arrested as they attempted to visit the spot where Drummer Lee Rigby was murdered have been released on bail.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson and his co-leader Kevin Carroll were detained by police on suspicion of obstructing officers outside Aldgate East station in east London yesterday as they attempted to stage what they claimed was a charity walk to Woolwich Barracks via the East London Mosque.

They were bailed last night to return to a police station in August together with another two men who were arrested on suspicion of assault, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Throughout yesterday morning the pair posted pictures on Twitter at London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, The Mall and the July 7 Memorial in Hyde Park.

The Metropolitan Police said yesterday that anyone trying to march to Woolwich would be arrested and imposed a route for the walk between Hyde Park Corner and ending at Old Palace Yard, opposite the House of Lords.

In footage posted on YouTube, police can be seen escorting Robinson and Carroll near to Aldgate East.

The pair then appear to have a scuffle with two other men who are walking alongside them.

As well as walking to raise money for a young girl fighting against neuroblastoma, Robinson and Carroll had intended to lay flowers in memory of Drummer Rigby in Woolwich.

Scotland Yard said it had imposed conditions due to fears that both the march and gathering would "result in serious public disorder and serious disruption to the life of the community" and a breach of the conditions would be a criminal offence.

The police force issued two notices under the Public Order Act based on "current community tensions, the current intelligence picture about Saturday and recent marches and protests held by similar groups".

It also said that attempts had been made to liaise with the EDL to facilitate the march and gathering and offered them two alternative routes that avoided Tower Hamlets, home to the East London Mosque.

Earlier this week, two American political activists who founded an anti-Muslim group were banned by the Home Secretary from entering the UK following reports they were to attend this weekend's march.

Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, who set up Stop Islamisation of America and run the website Jihad Watch, have been forbidden from entering the country on the grounds their presence would "not be conducive to the public good".

The police also banned the British National Party (BNP) from marching from Woolwich Barracks earlier this month and ordered it to move its protest to Westminster.

The event saw rival protesters clash outside the Houses of Parliament, as BNP supporters and anti-fascist campaigners came to blows.

PA