Several groups gathered in Newcastle to show solidarity with refugees as a counter to a planned far-right protest.
There was a heavy police presence at the Blue Carpet in anticipation of far-right group the 'North East Frontline Patriots' protesting against the housing of refugees and people seeking asylum in the city on Saturday afternoon. However, the protest did not go ahead as expected, but anti-racism groups, trade unions and local support organisations still showed up with the message that refugees are welcome in Newcastle.
Yunus Bakhsh, of North East Against Racism, added: "The idea that people who have fled warzones and dictatorial regimes arrive in Britain looking for a place of safety and then get attacked is so incredibly abhorrent. It doesn't even bear thinking about, it's absolutely outrageous."
