POLICE have confirmed that a protest staged by a far-right movement near Marston Green passed without any major incident.
Approximately 200 people - around half the number expected - took part in yesterday's rally.
Demonstrators from the anti-Islamic Pegida UK group marched from Birmingham International Station to nearby Birmingham Business Park, assembling in Starley Way.
Several protesters were seen carrying placards which said "Trump is right" - a likely reference to controversial comments made by US presidential candidate Donald Trump about banning Muslims from entering America.
In the run-up to the event, politicians locally and nationally had accused organisers of trying to sow division.
Labour MP Liam Byrne said: "We simply won't stand for people coming into Birmingham trying to divide our communities and spread fear and hatred. Brummies are proud of our diversity and we don't want it threatened by racists."
Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), hit back at critics when he stood up to address the crowd.
"Let them know what’s happened: we met up, we were civilised, we walked in complete silence, we held speeches, we exercised our freedom of speech, we showed solidarity across Europe and then we went home – that’s all that happened."
West Midlands Police had drafted in a number of officers amid fears that the protest could turn violent.
They were tasked with keeping the Pegida protesters separate from Unite Against Fascism, who had arranged their own demonstration nearby.
Following the event, the force confirmed there had been no serious disturbances or injuries. Only one man, a 39-year-old participating in the counter demonstration, was arrested for a suspected public order offence.
Chief Supt Alex Murray, from Solihull Police, said: "We’ve been planning the operation for months; the collective efforts of our officers, Solihull Council, partner agencies, protest organisers and community groups helped ensure the event passed off without any serious disorder.
"Disruption was kept to a minimum – Bickenhill Lane was closed temporarily to allow for protesters to walk from Birmingham International to the demo point but hopefully it didn’t hugely inconvenience motorists or local businesses."
The region's Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, paid tribute to the police operation but said that the presence required at such events put a significant drain on resources.
"I sincerely hope this is the last protest of its sort that we see here for a good long while," he said.
"The West Midlands is a place where people live side by side happily…it is sad when people from outside the region try to undermine that."
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