A teenager who appeared in court to deny posting offensive messages on Facebook about the deaths of six British soldiers in Afghanistan was met with a 50-strong protest.
The accused, 19-year-old Azhar Ahmed, denied sending the offensive message but was greeted at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court by far-right protesters holding signs that read 'jail those who insult our troops'.
There was a large police presence at the court to contain the demonstrators.
Ahmed faces charges of sending a message that was grossly offensive under the Communications Act 2003.
A racially-aggravated public order charge was withdrawn at Tuesday's hearing, and Ahmed denied the new charge.
Ahmed's first court date coincided with the repatriation of six soldiers who died in the deadliest attack on British forces in over a decade in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed alongside Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, Private Anthony Frampton, 20, Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, Private Daniel Wade, 20, and Private Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Their deaths took the number of UK troops who have died since the Afghanistan campaign began in 2001 to 404.
Ahmed was bailed and will stand trial at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court on 3 July.