MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to RT, about 200 people showed up for the Saturday rally organized by the groups, which included Britain First – a far-right nationalist political party and movement formed by former members of the British National Party.
Shocking — Updated pictures and video from this afternoon's protests in #Dudley. http://t.co/9VF7KeiBog pic.twitter.com/A9sS2oM9UM
— Express & Star (@ExpressandStar) June 13, 2015
Demonstrators were chanting racist slogans and carrying English flags and banners. One of them said "No surrender to terrorists, not now, not ever."
The #Dudley Central Mosque has opened its doors to the community during a far right anti-Islam protest in the town. pic.twitter.com/XBtDa3SqRC
— I Am Birmingham (@IAmBirmingham) June 13, 2015
Police made one arrest during the protest action, RT said.
Kevin Smith, one of the organizers of the march, said that the Saturday protest against the building of a mosque aimed to draw attention to the problem of Islamisation in the United Kingdom.
"The number of mosques grows, some of them are proven to be spreading extremist views. Half the food products you buy from shops, even big shops like supermarkets is now halal. People buy it without thinking," Smith said as quoted by The Express and Star, a local newspaper, the day before the protest.
The Saturday demonstration is the third held in Dudley this year over the building of the mosque. The previous rally, also organized by Britain First, was held in May with 150 having turned up for the protest action, according to RT. The first such protest was held in February.
Counter protest arrived following short March at Dudley Central Mosque without incident. pic.twitter.com/iT2c1261Ro
— CI Phil Dolby (@PhilDolbyWMP) June 13, 2015