Ninety arrests over city clashes

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Ninety people were arrested following clashes between right-wing protestors and anti-fascist campaigners in Birmingham on Saturday.

A group called the English Defence League, which said it was protesting against Islamic extremism, was met with a counter demonstration.

Police said rival gangs had hurled abuse and missiles at each other near the city's main shopping areas.

The arrested are aged between 16 and 39 and offences include criminal damage.

People were also arrested for violent disorder and one for possessing an offensive weapon.

Bus arrests

Of the 90 that were arrested police said some had been given fixed penalty notices while the remainder were released on bail.

The disturbances were confined mainly to the New Street and Bennetts Hill area.

Police reported that most people were arrested on buses which were leaving the area and about 30 were arrested in the city centre.

Officers had drafted in members of nearby forces, such as West Mercia, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, to help with the situation.

Det Ch Insp Sue Southern said shoppers had been unaffected by the trouble and shops had remained open.

The disturbances followed clashes last month, between English Defence League protesters and members of Unite Against Fascism.