Monday, October 17, 2005
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 World | U.S.A.
Published: 17/10/2005, 06:28 (UAE)
 
Mayor calls state of emergency after rioting over neo-Nazi march
 
AP
Toledo, Ohio: A crowd that gathered to protest a neo-Nazi march turned violent, throwing baseball-sized rocks at police, vandalising vehicles and stores, and setting fire to a neighbourhood bar, authorities said.

Mayor Jack Ford blamed the Saturday rioting on gang members taking advantage of a volatile situation.

He said he was declaring a state of emergency and set an 8 pm curfew.

He also asked the Highway Patrol for help.

"It's exactly what they wanted," Ford said of the group that planned the march, which was called off because of the rioting.

At least two dozen members of the National Socialist Movement, which calls itself America's Nazi Party, had gathered at a city park just before noon and were to march under police protection.

Organisers said they were demonstrating against black gangs they said were harassing white residents. Violence broke out about one-quarter of a mile away along the planned march route.

About 150 police officers in helicopters and on horses and foot chased bands of youths throughout the afternoon.

Officers wearing gas masks fired tear gas canisters and flash-bang devices designed to stun suspects, only to see the groups reappear nearby and resume throwing rocks and bottles.

Police Chief Mike Navarre said officers had a report of a man shot in the area, but they had not found a victim.

No other injuries had been reported, he added.

 
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