MP slams EDL plans to stage march in city
AN MP has condemned plans by the English Defence League to stage a demonstration in Birmingham following the London terror attacks.
The right-wing group had previously announced plans to march in Derby on April 8.
Now, it has cancelled the event and stated it will switch to Birmingham – the scene of raids and arrests since last week’s Westmin- ster atrocity. Winson Green terrorist Khalid Masood killed four people in the outrage before he was shot dead by armed police.
No location has yet been revealed for the rally but Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood condemned the proposals and said the group should be blocked from using the city centre.
“I don’t think this is right,” he said. “What they are doing is sowing the seeds of discord. That is exactly what these radical people who carry out terror attacks want, to fracture the community.
“I don’t think they should do this in city centres. If they want to come, then they should be put in a park or a stadium.
“We open up our city centres and allow these people to walk through but it puts our citizens at risk.
“We have to shut down our city centres for them and they come in to sow hate in the community.”
The MP added what was needed was for people to unite and work together, not allow some to point fingers at others.
But an EDL spokesman said: “In the light of the Westminster jihadist attack, we are switching the location of our April 8 demo from Derby to Birmingham.
“We are keeping our national focus and reacting appropriately to events.”
West Midlands Police said: “We are aware that the English Defence League is considering coming to Birmingham on April 8. We will be liaising closely with organisers to clarify their intentions.”