The front steps of city hall was the scene of dueling demonstrations Saturday centred on attitudes towards the Islamic community.

A group of people gathered in front of City Hall around noon to protest a motion known as M-103 by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid which calls on the federal government to denounce Islamophobia. Some of the demonstrators carried placards support PEGIDA Canada, a right-wing anti-immigrant group founded in Europe.

Another group which support M-103, got advance news about the demonstration and showed up to counter protest.

The two groups faced off, debating for a while, but the exchange soon became heated with an exchange of taunts and insults.

Although there some scuffles, there was no outright violence and no police presence at the gathering.

The protest and counter-protest in London was one of many similar incidents that happened in cities across Canada on Saturday including Toronto and Montreal.

hdaniszewski@postmedia.com

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