Hundreds turn out to counter Birmingham Britain First demo

Hundreds of people gathered to carry out a counter-protest to a Britain First march in Birmingham city centre. Britain First supporters marched a short distance from the city's New Street railway station and a larger crowd of counter-protesters gathered in nearby Victoria Square. West Midlands Police said three women and one man were arrested from the counter-protest on Saturday, who remained in custody. The force said it had deployed a "significant" amount of officers to police the crowds, which it estimated to number just under 1,000 people. Two women were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer, with another held on the same charge as well as criminal damage. A man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police. At one point, a small group of counter-protesters had attempted to break police lines, said the force. "They were kept back and reminded that we are keeping the groups apart in the interests of public safety." Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Burton, who led the operation, thanked the public for their patience in the city centre. "We have balanced the rights and concerns of the community with the need to facilitate protest, and those who came to protest have been