London, August 10: Thirty-five people were arrested after two rival groups clashed during a protest march against Islamic fundamentalism in Birmingham city centre, police said today. The clash took place on Saturday when the English and Welsh Defence League or Casuals United held demonstrations against Islamic fundamentalism whereas, Unite Against Fascism organised a counter-protest near the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham City, police said.
According to an eye witness, the whole city centre just descended into some kind of war zone with wooden planks, bottles and placards were thrown, and groups kicked and stamped on victims on the ground while men engaged in fights. Three people were injured and several cars and shops were damaged.
Police said no formal request to march was made but they were aware of a group who planned to protest and believed it was the English and Welsh Defence League or Casuals United. A police spokesman said they were aware of speculation that they were linked to the right extreme British National Party but no intelligence had been received to support that.
The backers of the English Defence League, which describes itself as “a mixed race group of English people, from businessmen and women, to football hooligans,” gathered outside Waterstone”s bookshop in a planned demonstration against militant Islam in Manchester, Luton, Harrow.
—-PTI–