Bolton town centre workers “unsafe” amid Sunday's far-right rally

Far-right and counter-demonstrators faced each other during a rally against immigration.

Fireworks, bottles and eggs were thrown at the ‘Stand Up for Your Country: Enough is Enough’ demonstration in Bolton town centre.

Greater Manchester Police separated the protesters and used powers to stop and search people in the area, and ask them to remove any face coverings.

Rachel Fisher, Team Leader of The Coffee House, was working in the town centre café on the day.

She said the scene was quite “intimidating,” but praised Greater Manchester Police.

She said: “There were a few people were arrested, but police handled [the demonstration] well.

Rachel Fisher, Team Leader at The Coffee House (Image: Newsquest)

 “There were many teen, 15- to 17-year-old counter-protesters. I don’t think they knew what they were protesting for.

“They just got swept up in the craze of it all.”

Erfan Mohamed, owner of Newsbox, closed his shop that day because it was “too risky.”

He said: “It’s getting to that stage where you start to feel unsafe because of your colour and religion, but hopefully if the government acts swiftly with whoever’s causing these riots.

“It is getting risky being Asian and Muslim.

Erfan Mohamed, owner of Newsbox (Image: Newsquest)

“I have three kids. When they watch things like this, they’re scared for their future. What’s going to happen when they’re 20 or 25?

“It’s getting worse and worse every year.”

Georgia Redford, Supervisor at Savers, was “surprised” at the protest.

She said: “It looked very chaotic and violent towards the end of it. People were throwing things and carrying bats.

“We ended up shutting early for the safety of the staff. It just got too aggressive.”

Georgia Redford, supervisor at Savers (Image: Newsquest)

A shop worker who declined to be named said: “I can see both sides. But I think the government need to address illegal immigration.

“I’m not against legal immigration because I’ve got loads of people from different ethnicities working with me who are lovely people.

“I just want peace. Bolton is very multicultural and you just want everybody to get on.”

Sunday’s demonstration was one of many ‘Stand Up for Your Country: Enough is Enough’ rallies across the UK.

The rallies were in response to the stabbing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside.

Axel Rudakubana, 17, is accused of killing Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party on July 29.

Fourteen people were arrested and seven charged for weapon possession across Greater Manchester in connection with Sunday’s ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstrations.