'A picture of mayhem' CCTV of Birmingham EDL trouble is shown to jury

Four men, including one from Wednesbury, are currently on trial for violent disorder in connection with the problems that flared at the demonstration in July last year.

The jury were shown CCTV footage from the rally, which started in Broad Street, including footage where each defendant is ringed.

The main demonstration was held in Centenary Square on July 20.

The trial of Thomas Wilkie, 22, of Kent Road, Wednesbury, Andrew Edge, 40, from Wellington Road South, Stockport, Shane Williams, 26, of Dragons Lane, Leicester, and Paul McKenzie, 49, of Braemar Road, Billingham, is taking place at Birmingham Crown Court. They each deny violent disorder.

Miss Catherine Goodwin, representing Edge, told the jury: "You have a general picture of mayhem that was going on that afternoon. As they have gone up Broad Street there is an element of disorder."

The CCTV footage showed demonstrators clashing with police on several occasions throughout the afternoon, on Broad Street, near a set of portable toilets in Centenary Square and on Regency Wharf.

All four men could be seen on CCTV in the vicinity of the violence, mainly near the portable toilets in Centenary Square.

Paving stones were ripped up and thrown at police, a portable toilet was pushed over at police and metal fences were pushed down during the disorder.

Miss Goodwin said: "There are several seats of disorder. Police officers were making an arrest and that's how some people got into Regency Wharf.

"They decided to start smashing windows of Jimmy Spices and Blue Mango. At about 4pm, there was a sigh of relief as people were put on their coaches and escorted back out of Broad Street to the railway station."

Detective Constable Neil Weston, from West Midlands Police, was tasked with trawling through more than 1,000 hours of CCTV of disorders which took place on the day.

DC Weston said: "Members of the crowd were throwing various items. Members of the public were on the other side of the road shouting at the EDL members.

"Paving stones were ripped from the ground and thrown towards police officers."

DC Weston also said the CCTV showed former EDL leader Tommy Robinson at the front of the march as the crowds headed towards Centenary Square, while there was also footage of a Pakistan flag and a Muslim prayer hat being burned by EDL supporters. Around 1,800 supporters of the far-right group filled Birmingham's Broad Street and Centenary Square during the rally.

During police interview, Wilkie claimed he was in Birmingham to watch a football match and got caught up in the disorder.

The trial continues.