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JJ - 'He said I was giving him stares'


Raoul Duke

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Mass brawl between right-wing group and anti-fascists as race riots spill onto streets of BirminghamThese were the ugly scenes outside a busy shopping centre when far right thugs clashed with anti-fascists in a full-scale bloody riot.article-1205263-05FFEA63000005DC-74_634x366.jpg10-08-09-image-9-279072072.jpgarticle-1205263-05FFEBF6000005DC-414_634x433.jpgarticle-1205263-05FFF041000005DC-88_634x449.jpgarticle-1205263-05FFECC8000005DC-416_634x438.jpgarticle-1205263-05FFEB78000005DC-835_634x515.jpgarticle-1205263-06000474000005DC-753_634x423.jpgarticle-1205263-05FFEF53000005DC-268_634x343.jpg

Shopper Emily Bridgewater said: 'There was stampeding and screaming. We ended up being locked in Primark, the shutters came down and the alarms went off as the riot police tried to regain control of the street.'At least three people were injured before the worst of the violence was brought under control by 8.30pm.Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood questioned the wisdom of allowing the two protests to be held simultaneously. He said: 'Certainly if there was going to be rallies by both these groups at the same time it would always lead to confrontation.'Police were aware the Right-wing protest had been planned through social networking sites but said no formal request to march was submitted. They had however been in talks with the UAF about its demonstration.Chief Inspector Mark Payne said: 'It is important to be aware we have no powers to ban or stop peaceful protests and would not seek to do so.'However, if criminal acts or racially aggravated incidents are reported, then police will arrest and prosecute anyone responsible.'
The rival groups fought a terrifying pitch battle after bungling police allowed them to hold protests at the same time.Families ran for cover as the yobs laid into each other with planks, bottles and placards. Officers in riot gear struggled to control the violence, arresting 35 people.Angry shoppers in Birmingham blasted police for letting the right wing extremist Casuals United group hold its demo near another by Unite Against Fascism.Hannah Taylor, 24, from London, said: "It was chaos. I can't understand how these protests were allowed to go ahead." David Glover told how the groups charged at each other on Saturday at the Bullring centre.The 28-year-old web designer, said: "There was a big roar and hundreds of people ran past the police up the street."Three people were injured in the rioting.CU is made up of mostly white football fans while the UAF is largely Asian youths.Police defended the decision to allow both demos. Chief Inspector Mark Payne said: "We have no powers to stop peaceful protests and would not seek to do so."The riots came as former Government adviser Paul Richards warned ministers have made a "dangerous" blunder by diverting anti-terror efforts to target far-right groups. Some police have been ordered to keep an eye on fascists.But Mr Richards said: "Recent plots and bomb attacks have come from Islamist groups recruiting British Muslim Youth. The far-right are disgusting but they aren't a terrorist threat''
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