Communal tensions on rise in UK as Leicester-like protest seen outside Hindu temple in Birmingham

Sep 21, 2022

LONDON: The tensions between two communities continued in the United Kingdom after a Leicester-like protest was seen outside a Hindu temple in Birmingham's Smethwick on Tuesday.

Videos surfaced on social media showing a large crowd marching towards the Durga Bhawan Hindu Centre on Spon Lane. Many were heard raising slogans along the lines of ‘Allahu Akbar'.

As law enforcement personnel attempted to restore order, some protesters were seen climbing walls.

According to reports, a group called 'Apna Muslims' had called for a peaceful protest outside the Durga Bhawan temple on Tuesday. But upon gathering, the protest soon took an ugly turn.

The protest came a day after leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities in the UK condemning the Leicester violence and calling it a result of outsiders coming to the city and inflaming existing tensions.

Over the weekend, police made 47 arrests after clashes between large groups of mostly young men in the east part of the city, as tensions boiled over following a recent cricket match between India and Pakistan.

So far, one man from Leicester has been jailed for his role in the incident but police have confirmed that a number of those arrested were from outside the city.

Amos Noronha, 20, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in connection with the violence but no further details of his crime were released.

Noronha was one of 47 people arrested across the weekend after the clashes which resulted in 16 officers being injured, Daily Mail reported.

Those arrested stand accused of an array of offences including affray, assault, possession of weapons and violent disorder.