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'Terror expert' in apology after Birmingham 'no-go' zone comments

That's no mosque - it's the BT tower. Twitter users thought commentators at US channel Fox News could probably do with a little help after one claimed Birmingham was a 'no-go' zone for non-Muslims.

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Now the commentator who made the claim on air has apologised and agreed to make a donation to the city's children's hospital after being pilloried on social media.

Prime Minister David Cameron called Steven Emerson a 'complete idiot' and said he should visit Birmingham to see it for himself.

The row has also resulted in West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson continuing his feud with the station's owner Rupert Murdoch, whose News of the World newspaper he heavily criticised as he helped to expose the phone hacking scandal.

Mr Emerson said 'there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim, where non-Muslims just simply don't go in', while appearing on the Fox News channel.

His comments were broadcast live on the network to households around the globe.

He also claimed London had 'Muslim religious police' that beat up anyone not wearing 'religious Muslim attire'.

The Prime Minister said: "When I heard this I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be April Fool's Day. This guy is clearly a complete idiot.

"Now he has started with an apology, that's not a bad start, but what he should do is look at Birmingham and see what a fantastic example it is of bringing people together of different faiths, different backgrounds and actually building a world-class, brilliant city with a great and strong economy."

People in the West Midlands quickly took to social media to ridicule Mr Emerson, whose own website states he is is an 'internationally recognized expert on terrorism and national security'.

He later apologised for his 'terrible error' regarding 'the beautiful city of Birmingham' and suggested the remarks had been down to 'other sources'.

Mr Emerson also stated his intention to make a donation to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Mr Watson said: "If not for the potential loss of tourist income for Birmingham then this might actually be funny.

"One of the biggest TV stations in the world, owned by the media mogul Rupert Murdoch, puts a so-called expert up to say our second city is a no-go area for non Muslims.

"This needs an on-air apology."

Twitter users were quick to ridicule the broadcast with the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts as they joked that Fox News might think Selfridges in the Bullring or the BT tower were mosques.

Angry readers of the Fox News website, some from Birmingham, posted comments on the site accusing him of "speaking nonsense".

Simon Higgins wrote: "This is the most delusional garbage I have encountered on the web in a long time.

"I can only speak for the UK, but let me tell you, there are no Muslim 'no-go' areas here. Anywhere."

Another said: "I am a white male from Birmingham, UK.

"To say the city is totally Muslim and a no-go zone is utter rubbish.

"Yes there are a large number of Muslims in the city, but pretty much every nation on Earth is represented, with the majority of areas integrated pretty well."

One man wrote: "Please stop talking nonsense about my country."

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