Protest sees crowds turn out to promote community

Some of the attendees said they wanted to make sure their businesses were protected

Hundreds of people lined the pavements of a Derby suburb for a peaceful protest in response to recent disorder.

Fears of further protests organised by people opposed to immigration had been sparked by the circulation of a list, claimed to be the addresses of lawyers who represent asylum seekers.

Crowds gathered from early afternoon on Normanton Road, near an immigration centre and mosque.

No disturbances were reported and the police thanked the community for its cooperation.

Umar Ali reminded the crowds to be a credit to their ummah [faith community]

Umar Ali, who teaches evening classes at a local mosque, repeatedly addressed the crowd calling for responsible behaviour and how the vigil was for "solidarity and unity".

He said: "We have made such a great effort, let's not spoil the moment.

"Let's show the Muslim ummah is still strong and we are still standing together peacefully."

Asgar Tair, a boxing coach who also attended the vigil, said: "I'm a proud Derby lad and I want to make sure we don't go over the line.

"There are people that are frustrated, there are people who want to express their feelings but we want the local businesses protected.

"Normanton is a great community and we stick together and if someone wants to engage in something horrible, we will rise above that."

Amir Khan said they were protecting local businesses and working with police

Local plumber Amir Khan said: "We are here to protect our community, our shops and keep law and order.

"We are not going to let racist thugs come down here and break our shops.

"We are working with the police and we are giving the police our full support as a community."

Police also thanked the community for their cooperation.

Ch Supt Emma Aldred said: "I want to reassure communities that we are doing our very best in terms of looking at information and intelligence and I want to thank all those that have come forward and provided that information.

"There is no place in our county for racism, discrimination and the causing of fear which we are seeing amongst our communities."

More than 25 towns and cities have seen unrest since the killings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, in Southport on 29 July.

This has been partly blamed on misinformation about the nationality and religion of the man arrested in connection with the attack.

Around the country, thousands of police officers were on standby in preparation for potential unrest but the evening largely passed off peacefully.

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