Thousands of people from far-right nationalist groups in cities around the world marched to protest against Islam and immigration on Saturday.
The demonstrators flooded the streets of cities in Britain, France, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Canberra, Australia, chanting "Islamists Not Welcome!" and "Ban Shariah Law!"
The biggest turnout was in Dresden, where police said they expected about 15,000 protesters at a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, known by its German acronym PEGIDA, The Associated Press reported.
The far-right radical group was founded in Dresden two years ago. Since then it has galvanized similar anti-immigrant movements around the world by exploiting the massive influx of more than one million refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and the terrorist attacks in Paris last year.
More than 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration on the other side of Dresden's river Elbe, which divides the city.
13:40 Kleines Video kurz vorm Eintreffen bei der ersten Kundgebung. #dd0602 #nopegida #actionday0602 #HerzstattHetze pic.twitter.com/C7oVwnXbVj— Robin Dullinge (@r_dullinge) February 6, 2016
Phalanxes of police and several armored vehicles were deployed to prevent the pro- and anti-immigration demonstrations from clashing.
1500 Wasserwerfer und Räumpanzer vom Carolaplatz stehen jetzt auf der Albertstraße, Höhe Markthalle. #DD0602 pic.twitter.com/qdKEdfoh0R— Straßengezwitscher (@streetcoverage) February 6, 2016
Meanwhile, at an anti-Islam protest in Birmingham, some protesters carried signs reading, "Trump is right," referring to presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. Others held placard adorned with a photo of "Jihadi John," the notorious Islamic State (ISIS) militant who beheaded Westerners before being killed in a drone strike, with the text: "Cultural enrichment?"
Pegida march getting under way in Birmingham, led by Tommy Robinson pic.twitter.com/He0si9DjxY— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 6, 2016
In Amsterdam, law enforcement officers did their best to keep pro-refugee activists from PEGIDA demonstrators.
Politie heeft de situatie op dit moment goed onder controle #Pegida pic.twitter.com/jFmJV95119— Alexander Bakker (@alexanderbakker) February 6, 2016
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AP_574910177948.jpg" caption="A flag reads "Islamists Not Welcome" as mounted Dutch riot police separates pro and anti far-right demonstrators during a rally against Islamization in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. " credit="AP Photo/Peter Dejong" alt="Netherlands Europe Anti Islam"]
But some from the PEGIDA group were detained after clashes with police.
In the Czech capital of Prague, police say unknown attackers hurled Molotov cocktails at a refugee center and set it on fire, injuring one person, according to The Associated Press and local media.
The attack took place just hours after thousands of people rallied in Prague against Muslims and immigration. Police are currently investigating.
In Dublin, a large group of demonstrators rallied in solidarity with refugees and against the PEGIDA protests.
Last month, police in Cologne used water cannons and pepper spray to push back more than a thousand anti-immigration protesters following attacks against women on New Year's Eve.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.