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Arrests at anti-Islamic protest | Arrests at anti-Islamic protest |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police in Birmingham have arrested 33 people during protests by anti-fascists and a group demonstrating against Islamic fundamentalism. | Police in Birmingham have arrested 33 people during protests by anti-fascists and a group demonstrating against Islamic fundamentalism. |
One protest involved two groups known as Casuals United and the English Defence League, which police said were made up of local football fans. | |
Another counter-protest in the city centre was organised by Unite Against Fascism, West Midlands Police said. | |
Two people were injured in the disturbances which began at 1800 BST. | |
Police said there were "sporadic incidents of disturbance in the city centre" with the majority of the arrests being for disorder. | |
There was one report of criminal damage to a vehicle, but more were expected. No police officers were hurt. | |
'Burning flag' | |
Resident Gary Nichols witnessed the disturbances from his city centre flat and said he was unable to go outside for about two and a half hours. | |
"It was very disheartening to see," he told the BBC. | |
"I've never experienced anything like it before in the three years I've lived here. | |
It really wasn't nice to see and I hope I never see it again Gary Nichols, eyewitness | |
"It started off with a group of white guys who were chanting 'England, England'. I thought they were just football fans, but then a larger group of black and Asian people turned up and it all kicked off. | |
"You had people burning the Union flag. People were being kicked - some of them weren't anything to do with the protests. | |
"It all seemed to be very systematic - groups were arriving in cars and getting involved in the violence. | |
"It really wasn't nice to see and I hope I never see it again." | |
Speaking before the demonstration, on the West Midlands Police website, Superintendent Matt Ward said there had been a similar protest against Islamic fundamentalism last month, involving 70 to 90 people. | |
He said the protest had been "vocal" but peaceful. | |
Supt Ward said the police wanted to balance the rights of protesters with retailers and shoppers who wanted to use the city centre for their normal business. |