A Birmingham mosque answered the “hatred and division” of an English Defence League rally by hosting a “best of British” tea party, as the far-right group’s demonstration passed off without a major incident.

The party at the city’s Central mosque, for which the building was decked out with union flag bunting, was open to all and organised in direct response to the EDL event in the city centre on Saturday afternoon.

The mosque’s chairman, Muhammad Afzal, said: “We are just holding this event to show EDL that Birmingham is a peaceful city and we are all united irrespective of colour, race or religion.”

Local MP Liam Byrne addressed the estimated 300 guests who gathered at the mosque to chat over cake, tea and coffee.

The Labour MP told the audience: “This is how we protest – by celebrating the quiet miracle of a normal life and the things that we love most about our city and our country.

“Getting together as friends, getting together as neighbours, breaking a bit of Victoria sponge and having a cup of tea. That is a potent, powerful message that we will send to those who seek to divide us.”

The EDL demonstration – condemned by the leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups on Birmingham city council – only attracted about 100 people and passed off without any serious disorder.

Despite the low numbers, which had been predicted before the event, there was heavy police presence, including riot vans, in the city.

West Midlands police said two people, thought to be counter-protesters, had been arrested for alleged breaches of the peace. According to reports, the man and woman were led away by police after a fight broke out during EDL speeches in Centenary Square.

Officers policing the event were twice forced to form cordons to keep EDL supporters and anti-fascist activists apart.



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In a post on its Facebook page, the EDL said it had decided to move the rally, originally earmarked for Derby, in the wake of the Westminster terrorist attack.

West Midlands police said in a statement: “We have developed professional links with EDL organisers who recognise it is in the group’s best interests to protest and have their say peacefully. We will have a highly visible police presence on the ground and sufficient police resources on standby should there be any trouble.”

A statement issued by the city council on behalf of the party group leaders, John Clancy, Robert Alden and Jon Hunt, said: “The English Defence League is not welcome in Birmingham. They will never be welcome in Birmingham. We would urge people to go about their normal everyday business. There is no place in our city for messages of hate. There is no place for intolerance and there is no place for violence or extremism of any kind.”

During an EDL march in Birmingham in July 2013, missiles including stones, bottles and broken glass were hurled at police officers in Centenary Square, resulting in several minor injuries. More than 50 men were convicted of violent disorder, including a 21-year-old who was jailed for three years and 10 months. Two other men were charged with violent disorder after a counterprotest on the same day.

The EDL said Saturday’s rally was aimed at highlighting what it describes as a “continued increase in Islamic terrorism” linked to Birmingham. In a statement explaining its decision to move the demonstration away from Derby, the EDL said Birmingham had been chosen as a venue because the city was “frequented” by the Westminster attacker, Khalid Masood.

Birmingham Food Drive also held its own response to the rally. Volunteers offered free food, clothes, live music and haircuts for the homeless in the city.