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90 arrested in Birmingham anti-Islam rally
[Iran Press TV Latest] Police have arrested 90 people after racially-charged anti-Islam demonstration in the city of Birmingham, central England, turned violent. The unrest broke out when supporters of an English nationalist group, the English Defence League, encountered anti-fascist activists during a rally on Saturday opposing expansion of Islamic ideas in Britain, West Midlands police said Sunday. About 200 people were involved in the clashes with both sides throwing projectiles and running from riot police, prompting authorities to arrest 90 people, all under 40 years of age, on suspicion of criminal damage and violent disorder. It was not immediately clear how many of the 200 belonged to each side, as the youths had their faces covered in most of the television footage of the incident in the city's downtown area. Clashes also erupted last month at a similar demonstration in Birmingham, a diverse city of about 1 million where nearly a third of the population is nonwhite. The English Defence League, which denies racism charge, blames counter-demonstrators for inciting violence at its rallies. It has planned protest marches in other cities, including one next month in Manchester. British nationalist groups and political parties seek to spark anti-Islam sentiment in the UK. A Muslim community leader in Loughton, Essex, who was abducted and threatened last week over Friday prayer sessions he has been leading, accused the far-right British National Party (BNP) for ordering the assault. The BNP denies the charge. Posted by: Fred 2009-09-07 |
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