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We are coming back, far right marchers warn Dudley

Far right protesters who recently marched in Dudley are planning a return, it has been confirmed.

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About 200 protesters from a group named All Football Fans/Firms March Against Islamisation (AFFFMAI) descended on the town earlier this month to protest at the building of a new mosque.

This week organiser Kevin Smith confirmed he is planning another protest later this year, but under a new name. The group posted on Twitter: "Dudley, we are coming back!"

Police deal with protesters from the All Football Fans/Firms March Against Islamisation march earlier this month

Speaking at a community debrief meeting on Tuesday, held in the wake of the AFFFMAI protest, Chief Inspector Phil Dolby, from West Midlands Police, confirmed he is contact with the protesters about another march.

He said: "The current position is one of negotiation. We will look to negotiate with them and understand if this is likely to turn into something more concrete. If it turns into something that we need to react to then we will. We will absolutely keep everyone informed as we have done with the others.

"Through the negotiations we try our upmost to see if we can stop anything happening. It is just one person saying it at the moment. There are comments in return to his post to say 'let's do it.'"

Organiser Kevin Smith rails against those who shunned the march

Mr Dolby added there had been some 'debate' about when a future march would take place, but confirmed September 12 had provisionally been put forward.

The previous march was a largely peaceful event, with only one 33-year-old man, Nick Thatcher, from Bradley Street in Pensnett, arrested and charged on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A 50-year-old man was also detained outside Dudley Police Station to prevent a breach of the peace but was later released without charge.

It was the third march this year opposing plans for a new mosque in the town, following demonstrations by the English Defence League and Britain First groups.

At the community debrief held at Dudley Council House, there were heated exchanges between members of the town's Muslim community and Mr Dolby.

Several people expressed concerns the protesters had been allowed to congregate at Stafford Street where it was said much of the Muslim community would be shopping just days before the start of Ramadan.

One man, who did not want to be named, said to Mr Dolby: "You are adamant they are not nice people but you let them say what they want. Why do you bring them next to our houses?

"We are kids born and bred in Dudley, We work, we do what we have got to do.

"We don't want to listen to the protestors but if you make us and tell us there is nothing you can do about it, you are not helping us."

MrDolby said because of the anticipated numbers there were limited options for managing the protesters. He said: "There were reportedly some 2,000 people coming and there is difficulty where to put that amount of people. It makes it Flood Street or Stafford Street. They are the only options available.

"If we choose Flood Street that means the protesters marching through the town. That is why we chose Stafford Street. It is not perfect. I do not want them to come here, but they do." Ahead of the previous march little was known about AFFFMAI, which has a strong online presence and drummed up support for the protest on Facebook.

An online invitation went out to 10,000 people, with almost 3,000 saying they would attend the protest, but in the end, only 200 turned up.

This month it was revealed the English Defence League is planning a demonstration in Walsall on August 15, while the United Patriot group plans another in the town on October 3.

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