Mounted Dutch riot police disperses demonstrators during a Pegida demonstration against islamization in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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DRESDEN, Germany (AP) - Protesters rallied against Islam and immigration in several European cities Saturday, sometimes clashing with police or counter-demonstrators, amid growing tensions over the massive influx of asylum-seekers to the continent.
Riot police clashed with demonstrators in Amsterdam as supporters of the anti-Islam group PEGIDA tried to hold their first protest meeting in the Dutch capital. Only about 200 PEGIDA supporters were present, outnumbered by police and left-wing demonstrators who shouted, "Refugees are welcome, fascists are not!"
Riot police detained several people as officers on horseback intervened to separate the two groups of demonstrators. It was not immediately clear how many people were detained.
Police in Germany expected about 15,000 people at a PEGIDA rally in Dresden, with 10,000 others in a counter-demonstration on the other side of the Elbe River that divides the city.
The group, whose German acronym stands for 'Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West,' has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment since it was founded in Dresden two years ago. After a drop in attendance last spring, the group saw a rise in support from people angered by the unprecedented influx into Europe of refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Aside from its nationalist and anti-Islam stance, the group has also sided strongly with Russia. Several Russian flags were flown at Saturday's rally in Dresden, along with banners including "Peace with Russia" and "Stop war against Syria."
Smaller PEGIDA-style protests were also taking place in France, Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Estonia.
Mounted policemen guard downtown Dresden, Germany, Saturday Feb. 6, 2016. Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters to take part in a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, Known by its German acronym PEGIDA, the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. About 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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Water cannons and police vehicles secure an area in downtown Dresden, Germany, Saturday Feb. 6, 2016. Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters to take part in a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, Known by its German acronym PEGIDA, the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. About 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city. ( Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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Police secure an area in downtown Dresden, Germany, Saturday Feb. 6, 2016. Thousands of people are taking part in protests against Islam and immigration in several European cities. Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters to take part in a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, Known by its German acronym PEGIDA, the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. About 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city. ( Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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Extreme-right activists and supporters of PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West), demonstrate in front of the train station in Calais, northern France, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Hundreds of extreme-right activists demonstrated Saturday to "save" Calais from homeless migrants inundating the French port city in hopes of crossing the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
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A man dressed as medieval knight walks through a demonstration as part of Europe-wide protests in cooperation with Germany's anti-Islam, anti-immigrant group PEGIDA, in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. The Prague Castle is in the background. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Two demonstrators carry a banner reading "Refugees Welcome" as Dutch riot police separates them from an anti-islam Pegida demonstration in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Thousands of people took part in protests against Islam and immigration in several European cities. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Participants of a counter demonstration gather in downtown Dresden, Germany, Saturday Feb. 6, 2016. Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters to take part in a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, Known by its German acronym PEGIDA, the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. About 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city. ( Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)
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Participants of an Anti Islam demonstration gather in Dresden, Germany Saturday Feb. 6, 2016. Police in Dresden say they expect about 15,000 protesters to take part in a rally organized by the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, Known by its German acronym PEGIDA, the group emerged in Dresden two years ago and has become a magnet for far-right and anti-immigrant sentiment. About 10,000 people were expected to take part in a counter-demonstration Saturday on the other side of the river Elbe, which divides the city. ( Arno Burgi/dpa via AP)
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