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Police deal with rival protesters Rival protesters clash in streets
(30 minutes later)
Rival protestors have clashed in Birmingham leading to a large police presence on some streets.Rival protestors have clashed in Birmingham leading to a large police presence on some streets.
A group calling itself the English Defence League which met to demonstrate against Islamic extremism was met with a counter protest near the city centre.A group calling itself the English Defence League which met to demonstrate against Islamic extremism was met with a counter protest near the city centre.
There was trouble last month when English Defence League protesters met members of United Against Fascism and several people were arrested. Several people were arrested last month when English Defence League protesters clashed with members of United Against Fascism.
Ch Insp Sue Southern said Birmingham was still open for business. Police said more than 20 men have been arrested on a bus in Digbeth.
She added that anyone who was intent on criminal activity would be dealt with 'robustly'. A West Midlands Police spokesman said the arrests for violent disorder were made shortly after 1530 BST.
The clashes took place near New Street. A 41-year-old man was also arrested for violent disorder in Waterloo Street.
Officers also said sporadic outbreaks of disorder took place in Bennetts Hill and New Street, with missiles being thrown.
A police spokeswoman said trouble causers would be dealt with "robustly".
Shopping route
Before the demonstration police and the city council obtained an order allowing them to restrict "trespassing groups" in the Bullring area of the city, under section 14a of the Public Order Act.Before the demonstration police and the city council obtained an order allowing them to restrict "trespassing groups" in the Bullring area of the city, under section 14a of the Public Order Act.
They were also granted permission to impose conditions on the protesters, restricting them to certain locations and for numbers not to exceed 250. They were also granted permission to impose conditions on the protesters, restricting them to certain locations and a limit of 250 people.
Orders were also passed restricting the demonstrations to two locations.
But after meeting on Broad Street in the city's entertainment district, demonstrators went to New Street, about half a mile away, and trouble broke out.
The street, which houses a large number of banks, cafes and chain stores, is a major pedestrian shopping route.