ABOUT 25 members of the National Front (NF) marched through Newham to lay floral tributes a year after a local teen was killed.
Ashley Hedger, 16, was stabbed to death in the doorway of a grocery store in Plashet Road, close to the Stratford border, at about 1.20pm on January 16 last year.
The NF decided to pay its respects to the Upton Park teen for the second year running on Saturday afternoon by marching to the property from Plaistow tube station.
Around 40 to 50 anti-racist protestors from all backgrounds and various organisations joined a counter march in protest against the NF action. More than 75 police were drafted in to keep the two groups apart during the afternoon. Police fear this may become an annual event and escalate. Albab Chowdhury, 18, of Harold Road, Plaistow, and Amran Siddick, 18, of Upton Park Road, were found not guilty of killing Ashley in October.
Mohammed Abdul Alim, 18, of Upton Park Road, was also charged with murder but that was later dropped.
Mohammed Abdul Hai, 25, is due to appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing on March 1 charged with murder.
Police said the weekend march went by without any problems. There were three arrests for disorder offences but they were not of members of the NF and it was not confirmed they were members of the protesting group.
Police only had a few weeks notice of the event, which also saw another morning march in Greenwich. They consulted local community leaders, the council and independent advisors beforehand.
Chief Insp Steve Marshall said: "Throughout the planning and policing of the event we were mindful of the impact on the local community and also mindful of ensuring the democratic right to protest and counter-protest. This was achieved successfully."
The NF had to abandon a similar march last year as it fell on the Eid religious festival and police felt it was too risky. They allowed that march to be re-organised a week later.
Officers say they will be planning ahead in case a similar march takes place next year.
