All the far-right rallies and counter-protests reported so far today
The Sunderland protest on Friday evening was among several planned across the UK this weekend after the knife attack in Southport on Monday, fuelled by misinformation on social media about the background and religion of the 17-year-old suspect.
Anti-racism group Hope Not Hate said up to 35 protests were due to take place across the UK this weekend “under a broad anti-multiculturalism, anti-Muslim and anti-government agenda”.
Here is a list of the far right rallies and counter-protests reported so far today:
Belfast
Hundreds of people gathered at the front of Belfast city hall for an anti-racism rally on Saturday shortly before noon. The event was organised in response to social media calls for anti-Islamic protests to be staged in Northern Ireland.
Police vehicles formed a barrier between the anti-racism protest and a small anti-Islamic group who had gathered on the other side of the road. The two groups were exchanging insults and a small number of fireworks and other missiles were thrown.
Police Land Rovers and officers in riot gear were reported to be separating the two groups. Officers were also seen arresting one man, who was taken away in a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) car. A number of roads into Belfast have been closed “due to ongoing protest activity”, police said.
Leeds
Two groups began hurling insults at each in the centre of Leeds just before 1pm and were being kept about 20 metres apart by barriers, with about 20 police officers between.
About 150 people carrying St George’s flags shouted “you’re not English any more” and “paedo Muslims off our street” outside the city’s central library and art gallery. But, they were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”. Many of this group were waving Palestinian flags in the sunshine and chanting “there are many, many more of us than you”.
Just before 1.30pm, one of the groups left their pen en masse and about 200 people walked past Saturday shoppers chanting “stop the boats” and other slogans. A line of police officers eventually arrived in vans near the Corn Exchange and walked in front of the group, some of whom were wearing masks.
When the march arrived back at the much larger counter-demonstration, large numbers of police placed themselves in front of the marchers, prompting some minor pushing, shoving and screaming at the officers from the marchers.
The noisy standoff then continued outside the central library and art gallery, with about 50 police between the two groups.
Manchester
A dispersal notice was authorised across Manchester city centre in order to assist police in dealing with protests, Greater Manchester police said.
At about 11am, anti-racism protesters were reported to be outnumbering those who had turned up for an “Enough is Enough” demonstration. Chris Slater, a reporter from the Manchester Evening News, said an estimated 150 people were taking part in the latter event, while about 350 people had turned out for a “Stop the Far Right” counter-protest.
Nottingham
A group holding St George’s and union flags in Nottingham’s Market Square were met with counter-protesters chanting “racist scum off our streets” and “Nazis not welcome”.
Scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other on King Street at about 3pm, with bottles and other items thrown from both sides. Chants of “England until I die” and “Tommy Robinson” were drowned out by boos from the counter-protesters.
Stoke-on-Trent
Police in Stoke-on-Trent said they were aware of “pockets of disorder” and bricks were reportedly thrown at officers in the city.
The Telegraph reported on Saturday afternoon:
Footage appeared to show far-right agitators pelting stones and fireworks in the direction of police and counter-protesters in Stoke.
A crowd of around 30 people, mostly men, were seen in a standoff with what appeared to be counter-protesters. The two groups were separated by around 20 yards, with a police van in between.
Hull
Windows were smashed at a hotel in Hull that was used to house asylum seekers, reports the BBC.
Leanne Brown, reporting from Hull for the broadcaster, said:
In Hull, protesters gathered outside a hotel which has been used to house asylum seekers. We’ve seen the crowd throwing concrete bricks and smashing windows with glass bottles, shouting ‘get them out’.”
Liverpool
Police separated groups of demonstrators outside the Cunard building on The Strand in Liverpool.
Anti-fascist protesters sang: “Where’s your Tommy gone?” At one point a group of men with masks and hoods up appeared to try to charge police officers who stood with batons. Officers with riot shields and helmets moved the crowd back and cans, bottles and coins were thrown. Police with dogs also moved in to separate the groups.
The windscreen of a police van was smashed as bricks and plastic barriers were thrown in Liverpool. Bricks were pelted at the vans and officers by youths with their faces covered. A chair thrown by demonstrators hit an officer on the head.
Key events
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Merseyside police: two officers taken to hospital, six arrests made
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Multiple arrests made during violent disorder in Bristol city centre
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Starmer: Police have “full support” to take action against “extremists” attacking officers
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Three police officers injured during disorder in Hull
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Officers injured dealing with ‘serious disorder in Liverpool city centre’
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Summary of the day so far
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Far-right chants drowned out by boos from counter-protesters in Nottingham
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Windows smashed at hotel in Hull, says BBC reporter
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Ministers expected to hold group call to discuss public order – report
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Bricks reportedly thrown at police officers in Stoke-on-Trent
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Police separate groups of demonstrators in Liverpool
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All the far-right rallies and counter-protests reported so far today
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Number of roads into Belfast closed ‘due to ongoing protest activity’, say police
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Counter-protesters and far right gather in Leeds
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No intelligence to suggest disorder planned for Scotland, say police
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‘Looting and vandalism is not protesting,’ says police and crime commissioner
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10 people arrested during Friday’s violent disorder in Sunderland, say police
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Hundreds gather at Belfast city hall for anti-racism rally
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Four officers injured in Sunderland last night, police say
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Dispersal notice authorised across Manchester city centre, say police
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Far right face off with anti-racism campaigners in Manchester
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Citizens Advice office set on fire last night, reports ITV News journalist
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Counter-protests took place in Bradford and Liverpool last night, say campaign group
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Priti Patel criticises government’s reponse to disorder and says parliament ‘must be recalled immediately’
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Police station set on fire last night, NE mayor confirms
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Faith leaders call for calm
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Dozens of protests planned this weekend across the UK
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Police injured and arrests made on another night of disorder
Merseyside police said officers have arrested 11 people over the Liverpool city centre disorder.
The force said more will follow once officers have trawled CCTV, bodycam and camera phone footage.
Many of the protesters in Bristol had dispersed by 10pm, leaving only about a dozen who congregated in a car park in Redcliff Street, opposite a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers.
A large police presence remained in the area.
James Tapper
The resurgence of far-right violence in the UK is in part due to Elon Musk’s decision to allow figures such as Tommy Robinson back on to the social media platform X, researchers say.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and those of his ilk are not leaders in the traditional sense and the far right has no central organisation capable of directing the disorder and violence that has been seen, experts say.
Jacob Davey, director of policy and research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), said: “People have been naming the EDL [English Defence League] as key figures when the EDL actually has ceased to function as a movement.”
The UK, like other parts of the world, now has “a much more decentralised extreme-right movement,” he said.
“There have been known figureheads at protests – including some avowed neo-Nazis – but there’s also this loose network that includes concerned local citizens and football hooligans.
Stand Up to Racism organised anti-fascist protests in Liverpool, Manchester, Stoke, Leicester, Nottingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Portsmouth and Bournemouth.
The group has more protests organised against the far-right on Sunday including in Sheffield, Birmingham, Bolton and Weymouth.
Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism, said: “Our protests show that every time fascists take to our streets, we will mobilise against them. People like Tommy Robinson and his supporters want to spread racism, division and Islamophobia. Our protests unite black, white, Muslim, Jewish, LGBT+ people to stand against the far right threat. We have beaten them before and we will beat them again through unity and solidarity.”
The was further violence in Liverpool as youths began pelting police cars.
Officers had responded to information about a mob planning to close a mosque in the Walton area.
Merseyside police said: “We can confirm there is a significant police presence on County Road in Walton as a result of people being involved in serious violent disorder this evening.
“Officers were deployed to the area following information about a planned disorder close to a mosque.
“Shortly after 9pm, a number of people including youths began throwing objects at police vehicles.
“A wheelie bin was also set alight and extinguished by Merseyside fire and rescue service.
“A Section 60 order is in place across Liverpool this evening, until 8.40pm on Sunday, giving officers extra powers to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons or planning criminality.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for public order, chief constable BJ Harrington, said: “In recent days we have seen criminals masquerading as protesters, causing senseless destruction.”
He said more disorder is likely in the coming days.
Harrington added: “This week we have seen appalling behaviour that in no way shows compassion or respect for the little girls who were killed and injured last week. It shows no respect for our communities, and it will be stopped.
“We know people will try and do this again in the coming days and policing has been and will continue to be ready.
“There are 130 extra units in place across the country, meaning almost 4,000 extra public order-trained officers to deploy.
“So if you’re planning to cause trouble and disorder our message is very simple – we’ll be watching you. Anyone committing a criminal offence will be detained and brought before the courts.
“In recent days we have seen criminals masquerading as protesters, causing senseless destruction.
“These people are not protesters, they’re violent thugs – and many have already been arrested and charged.”
Police in Northern Ireland said a business has been set on fire in Belfast as disorder continues in the city after anti-immigration protests.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Donegall Road area of south Belfast tonight.
“This disorder has resulted in a business premises being set on fire.
“The public should avoid the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas.”
Lancashire police said more than 20 people have been arrested today
Dispersal orders were issued in parts of Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn, with a number of arrests made after some disruption.
Offences included possession of an offensive weapon, police assault, possession of a bladed article, obstructing police, conspiracy to commit violent disorder and failing to adhere to a dispersal order.
Assistant chief constable Phil Davies, of Lancashire police, said: “We have today made a significant number of arrests following tension in Blackpool and some minor disruption in parts of Preston and Blackburn.
“In Blackpool, we have witnessed some mindless thuggery from individuals, who we believe to be from outside of the county, intent on causing issues in our communities.
“We have also seen some small pockets of tension elsewhere in the county, but, thanks to a robust partnership response to our policing plan, this was swiftly dealt with.
“I would like to thank the good people of our communities for their support during today’s operation.
“Lancashire police will continue to respond robustly to anyone planning disorder.”
Rioters will “pay the price” for the wave of violent clashes that has spread across the UK, ministers warned on Saturday, after a day in which police battled rival groups of demonstrators in the worst outbreak of civil disorder in Britain for more than a decade, writes Robin McKie , James Tapper, Michael Savage and Olivia Lee.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said the police would have the government’s full support to take the strongest possible action. “Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,” she said.
“Anyone who gets involved in criminal disorder and violent thuggery on our streets will have to pay the price and they should expect there to be arrests, prosecutions, penalties, and the full force of the law including imprisonment and travel bans. There are consequences for breaking the law.”
The widespread nature of the clashes poses the first major challenge to Keir Starmer’s new government, which is now facing demands to introduce emergency powers to stop further violence and to recall parliament.
In the protests that spread across the nation, bricks were hurled at police officers in Stoke-on-Trent, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast, and windows of a hotel which has been used to house migrants were smashed in Hull, where three police officers were injured and four people arrested. Several officers were also injured during “serious disorder” in Liverpool city centre, where bricks, bottles and a flare were thrown and one officer hit on the head with a chair. Greater Manchester police said a dispersal notice had been authorised for the city centre and scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other in Nottingham’s Old Market Square with bottles and other items thrown from both sides.
On the violent disorder in Liverpool, the city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “Let’s call this out for what it is: mindless thuggery by people looking for an excuse to spew hatred and carry out acts of violence.
“Families and tourists chased through the streets. Children traumatised. And the very police who ran towards the scene in Southport now subjected to assault and abuse.
“It’s not on – especially while our region is still trying to come to terms with Monday’s tragic events.
“These scenes shame our city and those responsible deserve to feel the full weight of the law.”
Staffordshire police said 10 people, all male and aged between 52 and 15, had been arrested on suspicion of offences including assault, violent disorder and racial or religious threatening behaviour.
The force said two men at the centre of false online claims that they had been stabbed had actually been hurt when a blunt instrument was thrown in the air.
They are in hospital and police said their injuries were not serious.
Three police officers suffered minor injuries.