In London, there were scuffles as nearly 500 marchers took part in a march to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. As marchers walked past Downing Street they were confronted by about a group believed to be from the National Front chanting anti-republican slogans. Shortly afterwards they were charged at by a group of around 30 skinheads. The trouble erupted around 400 yards from Downing Street.
Police restrained skinheads chanting "No surrender to the IRA" and other anti-Republican slogans, when they tried to charge at the head of the march, led by Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly. Minutes earlier, a delegation had delivered a letter to Downing Street from the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, calling for "the truth surrounding the events of that day" to be uncovered and urging the British Government to give a full explanation for the deaths of 14 people, shot by the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment as they took part in a march on January 30, 1972.
Today's march culminated in a rally, at London's Friends Meetings House. It was addressed by Gerry Kelly and Diane Hamill, whose brother Robert died after being attacked by loyalists in Portadown last year. One man was arrested at the beginning of the march, but was later released without charge.
