https://news.sky.com/story/hull-protest-organiser-apologises-to-mosque-worshipper-after-demo-led-to-far-right-riot-13197967

Hull protest organiser apologises to mosque worshipper after demo led to far-right riot

John Francis, founder of a group called Hull Patriotic Protesters, organised the demonstration against illegal immigration in the wake of a stabbing attack that left three young girls dead in Southport

The organiser of a protest that led to racist violence in Hull has accepted that describing small boat migrants as "an influx of illegal invaders" was not "the best choice of words"

However, he claimed his demonstration was hijacked and denied being racist

In a conversation with a worshipper from a mosque that was attacked, John Francis apologised for what happened.

Amanj Jamil, a member of Hull's Kurdish community, agreed to meet Mr Francis at the invitation of Sky News

Mr Jamil has lived and worked in Hull for 24 years since arriving as an asylum seeker from Iraq

He was inside a mosque when a violent mob attacked it, throwing items including stones at the building, during a riot on 3 August

Mr Francis who has lived in Hull for many years after moving to the city from London, is the founder of a group called the Hull Patriotic Protesters and organised a demonstration in the city.

He told Mr Jamil his protest had been planned for "about three weeks" and that "illegal immigration" was his main focus