EDL's Kevin Carroll arrested over race hate crime
A leader of the English Defence League and chairman of the British Freedom Party has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of a race hate crime.
Kevin Carroll was arrested in Luton on Saturday by officers investigating a message he is suspected of posting on the social networking site Facebook.
The message allegedly incited racial hatred.
In November Mr Carroll unsuccessfully stood for election as the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "A 43-year-old was arrested on Saturday morning on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive or insulting written material with intent to cause racial hatred."
Peter Mullins, founder of the British Freedom Party, which Mr Carroll represented in last year's election, said his arrest was "heavy-handed" and "an absolute disgrace".