[h=1]Violent clashes break out during anti-Islam march in Newcastle city centre with hundreds of far-right protesters met by MP George Galloway leading a rival demonstration[/h]
There were violent clashes on the streets of Newcastle today as hundreds of demonstrators from controversial anti-Islam group Pegida were met by a 2,000-strong counter-protest.
Around 400 people from the far-right group were shouted down by the counter-demonstration, with scuffles breaking out as the rally made its way through the city centre, leading to five arrests.
The rival demonstrations against the anti-Islam march were led by Respect MP George Galloway who spoke at the pro-Islam rally, branding the far-right protesters a 'German Nazi group'.
- Violent clashes in Newcastle as 400 far-right anti-Islam protesters demonstrate as part of Pegida movement
- Rally was met by a 2,000-strong counter-protest led by Respect MP George Galloway who branded them 'Nazis'
- Organisers of Pegida - Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West - insisted protest would be peaceful
- But scuffles broke out and men with bloodied faces could be seen being dragged to the ground by police officers
- Five men from anti-Islam protest arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of peace and being drunk and disorderly
- Pegida anti-Islam movement has swept sections of Europe and started last year in Dresden, Germany
- Police arrested five people for various offences in connection with today's demonstration in Newcastle
There were violent clashes on the streets of Newcastle today as hundreds of demonstrators from controversial anti-Islam group Pegida were met by a 2,000-strong counter-protest.
Around 400 people from the far-right group were shouted down by the counter-demonstration, with scuffles breaking out as the rally made its way through the city centre, leading to five arrests.
The rival demonstrations against the anti-Islam march were led by Respect MP George Galloway who spoke at the pro-Islam rally, branding the far-right protesters a 'German Nazi group'.