This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40326774
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Extra security for 'Europe's largest Eid party' in Birmingham | Extra security for 'Europe's largest Eid party' in Birmingham |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Celebrations are under way at one of Europe's largest end of Ramadan events. | |
| Armed officers and extra patrols were expected at Birmingham's Small Heath Park for Eid al-Fitr where organisers said up to 100,000 people would gather. | |
| Additional security was agreed after the series of terror attacks in Manchester and London, most recently at Finsbury Park Mosque. | Additional security was agreed after the series of terror attacks in Manchester and London, most recently at Finsbury Park Mosque. |
| Officers will be at key locations, with "a range of specialist officers on duty," West Midlands Police said. | Officers will be at key locations, with "a range of specialist officers on duty," West Midlands Police said. |
| "Every year the event gets bigger... of course security will be a high priority, but we want people - also the wider communities - to enjoy the activities," a spokesman for Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre said. | "Every year the event gets bigger... of course security will be a high priority, but we want people - also the wider communities - to enjoy the activities," a spokesman for Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre said. |
| It is the seventh year the event has been held in the park and organisers are working with five Birmingham mosques "to bring the community together". | It is the seventh year the event has been held in the park and organisers are working with five Birmingham mosques "to bring the community together". |
| Concerns about Muslims being targets for attacks have been repeated since the Finsbury attack just after midnight last Sunday when a van struck a number of people. | Concerns about Muslims being targets for attacks have been repeated since the Finsbury attack just after midnight last Sunday when a van struck a number of people. |
| The chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque said Muslims in the West Midlands felt "under siege" and potentially blamed for the recent terror attacks carried out in the name of so-called Islamic State and in Finsbury. | The chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque said Muslims in the West Midlands felt "under siege" and potentially blamed for the recent terror attacks carried out in the name of so-called Islamic State and in Finsbury. |
| Mohammed Afzal said: "Whatever happens, everybody starts feeling very afraid as if they are going to be attacked or they are going to blamed for it. | Mohammed Afzal said: "Whatever happens, everybody starts feeling very afraid as if they are going to be attacked or they are going to blamed for it. |
| "They feel as if the whole world is against them and their future in this country is not that secure, unfortunately. That is the feeling of most of the people." | "They feel as if the whole world is against them and their future in this country is not that secure, unfortunately. That is the feeling of most of the people." |
| Mr Afzal said West Midlands Police and local authorities were doing "their best" to tackle hate crime against Muslims and the police presence around mosques had increased after events such as the terror attack in Manchester. | Mr Afzal said West Midlands Police and local authorities were doing "their best" to tackle hate crime against Muslims and the police presence around mosques had increased after events such as the terror attack in Manchester. |
| Mr Afzal said Muslim people were becoming "fed-up" of condemning attacks "because they are happening so frequently". | Mr Afzal said Muslim people were becoming "fed-up" of condemning attacks "because they are happening so frequently". |
| "There is too much being expected of us because the general public - 99.9% - they are law-abiding citizens and have nothing to do with these terrorists and we don't believe they are the true Muslims," he said. | "There is too much being expected of us because the general public - 99.9% - they are law-abiding citizens and have nothing to do with these terrorists and we don't believe they are the true Muslims," he said. |
| West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: "Over the last few weeks communities will have seen more police officers carrying out enhanced patrols across the West Midlands at key locations, including places of worship. | West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: "Over the last few weeks communities will have seen more police officers carrying out enhanced patrols across the West Midlands at key locations, including places of worship. |
| "These additional measures continue and are to reassure people worried by the recent events and not in response to any local threat." | "These additional measures continue and are to reassure people worried by the recent events and not in response to any local threat." |
| Organisers of the Small Heath event said in a statement: "Last year we met families - of all different faiths - that had travelled from across the world to join in the day's festivities. | Organisers of the Small Heath event said in a statement: "Last year we met families - of all different faiths - that had travelled from across the world to join in the day's festivities. |
| "Celebrate Eid has always been open to the entire community and we welcome people of all faiths to join. As our numbers grow, so does our commitment to our community and our passion for peace and inclusion." | "Celebrate Eid has always been open to the entire community and we welcome people of all faiths to join. As our numbers grow, so does our commitment to our community and our passion for peace and inclusion." |