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Thousands take part in anti-Islam Pegida protests across Europe Thousands take part in anti-Islam Pegida protests across Europe
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of people are taking part in protests against Islam and immigration in several European cities.  Protesters from the anti-Islam PEGIDA movement marched in cities across Europe today.
Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters at a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West. With around 2000 attendees, the largest was in Dresden, the home town of the group, the Daily Mail reported.  
Known by its German acronym Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident), the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment.  There were also far right demonstrations in the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Poland, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia and even Australia.  
About 10,000 people are expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city.  In Birmingham, 100 - 300 protesters joined the first PEGIDA demonstration in Britain. A silent march walked through a Birmingham industrial estate, a Guardian journalist reported:
Similar, smaller Pegida-style protests were planned in Britain, France, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.  Some marchers held signs saying 'Trump is right', referring to the US presidential candidate's anti-Muslim rhetoric.   
The march was led by Stephen Yaxley Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the far-right English Defence League.  
Known by its German acronym Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident), the group emerged two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. 
Nationalist groups in Europe have been galvanized by the unprecedented influx of refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East last year. Nationalist groups in Europe have been galvanized by the unprecedented influx of refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East last year. 
Last month, water cannons and pepper spray were used to push back more than a thousand anti-immigration protesters in Cologne following attacks on New Year's Eve.Last month, water cannons and pepper spray were used to push back more than a thousand anti-immigration protesters in Cologne following attacks on New Year's Eve.
Associated Press Associated Press contributed to this report.