Hundreds turn out to counter Britain First demo

Hundreds of people gathered to carry out a counter-protest to a Britain First march in Birmingham city centre.

Britain First supporters marched a short distance from the city's New Street railway station and a larger crowd of counter-protesters gathered in nearby Victoria Square.

West Midlands Police said three women and one man were arrested from the counter-protest on Saturday, who remained in custody.

The force said it had deployed a "significant" amount of officers to police the crowds, which it estimated to number just under 1,000 people.

Two women were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer, with another held on the same charge as well as criminal damage.

A man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police.

At one point, a small group of counter-protesters had attempted to break police lines, said the force.

"They were kept back and reminded that we are keeping the groups apart in the interests of public safety."

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Burton, who led the operation, thanked the public for their patience in the city centre.

"We have balanced the rights and concerns of the community with the need to facilitate protest, and those who came to protest have been able to exercise that right," she said.

Flag-carrying Britain First supporters were seen letting off smoke flares, and chanting anti-government messages before being addressed on a stage by the group's leader, Paul Golding.

The "march for remigration" was calling for "mass deportations of foreigners," he told the crowd.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said the group was not welcome in the city, saying residents did not share their "divisive and dangerous rhetoric".

A statement issued by the joint leaders of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Better Birmingham Independents echoed the mayor's sentiments.

"Birmingham's diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and we are proud to be a place where people from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths live and work side by side," said the statement.

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