Birmingham – Supported by the PM Muslims show their power

Mostly from the Birmingham Mail. 

A huge crowd gathered in Bordesley Green this evening following rumours that a ‘far right rally’ was going to take place. . . hundreds of mostly young men in balaclavas and face masks gathered outside the McDonald’s at the junction of Bordesley Green and Belchers Lane.

300 or so people mostly Asian and male, many dressed in black and wearing masks or coverings, turned up after the rumour spread rapidly online.

Despite the rumours circulating today, there was no rally and the crowd was seen later dispersing, with some young men using the opportunity to show off on motorbikes.

A 45-year-old from Bordesley Green said he was there to stand up against fascism…“We don’t want this portrayed as Muslim men causing trouble…”

Yardley West and Stechford Cllr Baber Baz was among the crowd this evening and said there was a “strong response from the community”. Cllr Baz added: “As long as it remains peaceful which I am sure it will we are sending a strong message to the EDL that they are not welcome here and will not divide our community.”

A Sky News reporter was forced off air after she was sworn at, with one man on a bike riding towards the camera before saying: “Free Palestine, f*** EDL.” A man wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife ‘stabbed’ the tyre of a Sky News van after its reporter was forced off air, it has been reported. Sky News had to cut short its broadcast in Bordesley Green after its reporter was sworn at on TV.

If Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t hold a press conference tomorrow condemning the violence taking hold in Birmingham without any noticeable police intervention tonight, then we have confirmation that #TwoTierKeir is a liar and a fraud.

Taking to X, Sky News said in an update: “The Sky News crew was followed by a man in a balaclava holding a knife after speaking live from Birmingham. The man stabbed the tyre of Sky broadcast van but didn’t damage it, so the crew was able to drive away.”

The broadcaster shared footage of a man who appeared to run up to a dark grey-coloured van before bending down and stabbing at the back left wheel. The incident was captured on camera in which someone said “no, no, no” and a car horn beeps before they add: “He’s going to do the same to us.”

The BBC is using the ‘M’ word

During the evening several vehicles and a pub, The Clumsy Swan in Yardley, were attacked by a group of Muslim youths, who broke away from the main demonstration and were wearing masks and carrying weapons. The West Midlands force said there had been at least three cases of criminal damage, one offence where someone was seen carrying an offensive weapon and one of assault. I hope they are arrested, tried and imprisoned as quickly as some of those demonstrating in Southport a few days ago have been. Task force, night courts and all that…

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Yesterday (Solihull is a district of greater Birmingham) 

Solihull Police confirmed they attended a “mass gathering” in the Hermitage Road area last night (August 4) after receiving a number of calls from concerned residents. Sharing the news on social media, the force wrote shortly after 10:30pm: “We’re in Hermitage Road after receiving a number of calls about a large gathering. We’re there making sure everyone stays safe until the numbers disperse.

…from video footage shared online that claimed to be taken at Redlands Road, off Hermitage Road it appeared that the (seemingly unrelated disturbance) majority of attendees at the Solihull gathering on Sunday evening were actually chanting ‘Free, Free, Palestine’.

I should have some information on events in Plymouth in the morning.