UPDATE - Pro-migration demonstration interrupted by far-right group in UK

ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Burak Bir

CANNOCK, UK (AA) - Clashes erupted in Staffordshire, UK on Saturday after a pro-migration demonstration was interrupted by a far-right group.

The Cannock Chase Welcomes Refugees group gathered in the Cannock town center on Saturday morning.

Many other groups like Stand Up To Racism and unions like RMT as well as local people supported the demonstration.

Holding banners which read: "Refugees welcome", "Stop Rwanda", "Be human", and "Oppose offshore detention", the group chanted pro-migration slogans.

During a speech, Carl Brown from Stand Up To Racism said that those who are standing on the opposite side of the square are "white supremacist and neo-Nazis who are emboldened by the government's dangerous rhetoric."

He said that they are and should be angry about what is going on about immigration. "Our anger goes hand in hand with hope. Hope for a better world, hope for more compassionate world, hope for fairness and equality for all."

An hour later, far-right Patriotic Alternative members arrived at the scene and launched its own anti-immigration protest at the opposite side of the city center.

- Police form wall

Police formed a wall between the opposing groups as they raised slogans. However, clashes erupted when some members of the Patriotic Alternative group tried to breach the police line.

Police intervened to break the clash and increased deployment of units.

The far-right group carried banners which read: "End the invasion, stop immigration" and chanted anti-migration slogans while claiming that they are not against refugees but illegal migrants.

Another banner of the group reads: "No vacancies, Britain is full".

Previously, there was similar confrontation in Cannock where two hotels are housing unaccompanied asylum-seekers.

Both sides started to call on people to join their protests days ago on social media, referring to previous unrest.

Earlier this week, the UK government introduced a bill in parliament to stop asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel in small boats.

If approved, the legislation would enable the detention of people for the first 28 days after arrival.

The government is also mulling a plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda while their claim is being assessed.​​​​​​​