Hundreds of people gathered outside Nuneaton Town Hall on Saturday for an anti-immigration demonstration, which included a march through the town centre. Many waved England and Union
Jack flags, carried homemade signs, and chanted anti-government slogans.
The protest was part of a wider series of similar events held across England on the same day. Warwickshire Police said the gathering was largely peaceful, though a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making threats to cause criminal damage.
The demonstration followed comments from Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch, who claimed two men charged with raping a 12-year-old girl in the town were asylum seekers—a statement the BBC has not independently verified. Warwickshire Police said national guidelines prevent them from releasing suspects’ ethnicity or immigration status once charges are made.
The accused men, Ahmad Mulakhil, charged with two counts of rape, and Mohammad Kabir, charged with kidnap, strangulation, and aiding and abetting rape of a girl under 13, are due to face court over an incident on 22 July.
Police officers engaged with protesters throughout the event. A small group of counter-protesters attended but were moved on after being surrounded by the larger crowd. By 15:30 BST, the protest had dispersed.
The event was organised after Mr Finch accused Warwickshire Police and the Home Office of concealing the men’s immigration status. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage later urged police forces nationwide to disclose such information.
According to campaign group Stand Up To Racism, similar demonstrations took place in Bristol, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leicester, and Birmingham. Photo by G-13114, Wikimedia commons.