'Far-right know they'll never succeed in Bristol'

Fearful of Saturday's violent disorder being repeated - which saw a hotel housing asylum seekers targeted - thousands gathered in Bristol to counter a rumoured further rally on Wednesday.

Twenty people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's disorder in the city, with five men charged.

Communities felt uncertainty on Wednesday after online rumours of another demonstration in Bristol. But despite hundreds of police officers being deployed, businesses boarding-up their windows and closing early, far-right groups did not appear.

The BBC has been speaking to community leaders and organisations and asked for their reflections on the last week, and what happens next.

Arif Khan said he was "almost in tears of joy" at the reaction after crowds gathered to counter a rumoured anti-immigration rally

Council of Bristol Mosques chair and founder Arif Khan, said the "threat hasn't gone".

"They didn't come last night, but it doesn't mean they won't come to Bristol at all," he said.

"They could turn up tomorrow. All the communities should stay together and protect our Bristol as best as possible."

Thousands of people gathered in Old Market in Bristol on Wednesday to counter a rumoured anti-immigration rally.

Huge crowds held anti-racism placards and chanted, with the rally prompted over claims on social media that protesters were planning to target an immigration lawyer's business.

Mr Khan said he was "almost in tears of joy" at the reaction.

He said: "What I've seen is people smiling. They think 'yes we won'. Even the far-right know they'd never succeed in Bristol.

"By the looks of things what we saw how people got together, we know they will never succeed."

Tensions have been high across England after the killing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

On Saturday, disorder led to smashed windows and groups becoming aggressive with police before attempting to storm Mercure Hotel which is housing asylum seekers.

They sang Rule Britannia, "England 'til I die" and "we want our country back".

When they arrived at the hotel, guests were seen looking out of their windows and anti-racism protesters formed a wall by locking arms outside its entrance.

Protesters blocked the road on Bristol Bridge on Saturday

Alex Raikes, chief executive of Stand Against Racism & Inequality, said seeing shops in Old Market boarded up was "almost dystopic" on Wednesday.

"We had projects for children cancelled, staff sent home. It was like Covid but for such a horrific reason," she said.

"I had people in tears, saying they feel like they can't walk around anywhere without worrying who might attack me or my children."

But she said seeing the many people turn out "restored some perceptions of community safety".

She said: "There's not much that could have done that for people, and I thought how on earth are people going to feel safe again? But the masses of people who turned out helped enormously."

Thousands gathered in Old Market on Wednesday

Going forward, Ms Raikes said there needs to be more conversation.

"Talking makes a difference. We do need some long-term work, we ignore people with these views at our peril.

"We have to find a way to connect and engage, and break down so much misinformation."

She said she "couldn't commend the police enough" and urged anyone with concerns to contact them.

Councillor Abdul Malik, who represents the Ashley ward on Bristol City Council, said the build up to Wednesday was a "difficult, profoundly worrying time".

He said there should be a study on "what's happened, how we got to this point and why, and what we can do to solve the problems".

But he said he found it "difficult" people rejoiced over "no one turning up".

"Is that how worried we were? The fact they can cause that type of fear and we are happy they don't show up is difficult.

"Of course we have to believe it's real. People boarded up their shops, and they are really worked up. But we have to be more thoughtful and unpick this."