AN ANTI-IMMGRANT protest due to take place in Weymouth appears to have been been promoted by activist Tommy Robinson.
Mr Robinson, who founded the far-right, Islamophobic organisation English Defence League (EDL), posted a list of demonstrations taking place in the UK over the weekend on his page on X, formerly Twitter.
It includes a gathering due to take place at the Jubilee Clock on Weymouth seafront at 5pm today.
Meanwhile, a poster being circulated locally promoting the event says 'Enough is enough' and gives the time and location of the protest but gives no other details.
In response to the protest, the group Stand Up To Racism Dorset is to hold a counter-protest at the same location.
There has been a week of unrest across the UK following the Southport stabbings.
The far right has drawn condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum after disorder in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool over the past few days.
Further demonstrations in towns and cities got under way yesterday as tensions remain high after the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport on Monday.
There were clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters on Saturday, with police forming lines with riot shields to keep groups apart.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused of the Southport attack, but false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
Ahead of the Weymouth protests, police have issued a warning to those attending - and have increased the number of officers working to "ensure public safety".
Assistant Chief Constable for Dorset Police, Mark Callaghan, said: "We have been liaising with the organisers of both protests to ensure people can exercise their right to protest legally and safely without causing significant or ongoing disruption to residents, visitors and businesses.
"We will seek to enable peaceful protests, but let me be clear that if people are intent on committing public order or criminal offences, they will be dealt with robustly as such behaviours will not be tolerated.
"I ask that people enjoy what Dorset has to offer, but consider the increased demands the warm weather has on our public services.
"To ensure the continued safety of the public and our officers, we have increased our resourcing this weekend. I am grateful to those officers who have given up their time off with their families and friends to deliver a safe Dorset for our communities."
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