There were ugly scenes in Birmingham last night after hundreds of men, some wearing masks, gathered in the Alum Rock and Bordesley Green areas of the city, following false reports that far-right protesters planned to march there. Rumours of a far-right gathering had been circulating all day and were the subject of discussions in a Telegram group linked to the initial violence in Southport after three girls were stabbed last week. In the event, the far-right protest failed to materialise, but West Midlands police are investigating reports of assault, criminal damage, and a man in possession of an offensive weapon.
Scores of demonstrators had gathered to ‘protect property’ and ‘defend their communities’ amid fears of another night of violence. Images show a large crowd, some wearing balaclavas, near a McDonald’s restaurant in the Bordesley Green area of the city, chanting about stopping far-right thugs. Other video footage showed large groups of men, some masked, waving Palestine flags.
It is a statement of the obvious to point out that all such behaviour should be condemned equally
During the evening, several vehicles and a pub were attacked by a group of youths, who broke away from the main crowd and appeared to be carrying weapons. Some protesters surrounded Sky News correspondent Becky Johnson during a live broadcast from the scene. Johnson was interrupted on air by a masked protester who sped up behind her on a motorbike, shouting ‘Yo, free Palestine, f*** the EDL (English Defence League)’. As other men wearing masks approached the camera, the journalist attempted to apologise for the language used by the protesters. The cameras quickly cut away as other protesters rushed into frame. Johnson later disclosed that a Sky News van was attacked by a man with a knife as they attempted to leave the scene – after being told they were not welcome in the area. The man stabbed the tyre of their TV broadcast van but didn’t damage it, so the crew was able to drive away. Targeting journalists in this way is indefensible.
Jess Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley and the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, is facing widespread criticism for appearing to make excuses for some of those involved in last night’s demonstrations. She claimed on social media that local Muslims had been coaxed out by the online reports.
‘To be clear all day rumours have been spread that a far right group were coming and it was done entirely to get Muslim people out on the street to drive this content,’ she wrote on X, responding to the Sky news footage. ‘These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them.’ It seems to have escaped her attention that no racists came.
Does Phillips really mean to suggest that, if people are threatened or targeted by misinformation, it is OK to take to the streets in this way? Would Phillips be happy offering the same justification for far-right protesters? It is a statement of the obvious to point out that all such behaviour should be condemned equally, even more so in the case of a serving member of the government. Former home secretary James Cleverly was quick to criticise Phillips for her remarks: ‘Home Office ministers should not be making excuses for masked men shouting, abusing, and intimidating members of the media.’ Cleverly is right.
The ugly scenes in Birmingham last night highlight some broader trends that have been emerging during the unrest in recent days. Far-right protests are now attracting counter-protests from anti-racist groups and others, often in equal or greater numbers. These demonstrations, however well-intentioned, are only adding to the problems on the ground. Limited police resources are being diverted to keep opposing groups separate, which only serves to make the already difficult job of the police even harder. It is for officers to maintain law and order and protect local communities. Groups of self-appointed masked vigilantes like those we saw in Birmingham last night are not the answer.
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