UK Anti-Immigrant Protests Spark Clashes With Counter-Demonstrators Across Multiple Cities

Anti-immigration demonstrators clashed with counter-protesters in several cities across Britain as police struggled to contain disorder that left bystanders and families caught in the middle of chaotic scenes.

Large numbers of officers were deployed in Liverpool, Glasgow and Brighton on Saturday, where opposing groups exchanged taunts, scuffled behind police cordons and held rival rallies amid growing tensions on streets around the country.

In Liverpool, police mounted a major operation around County Road as anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators gathered in the Walton district.

A heavy police presence had been in place since early morning, with Merseyside Police granted additional powers ahead of the planned demonstrations because of concerns that violence could break out.

About 150 anti-immigration protesters assembled, chanting slogans against Keir Starmer and waving Union flags, while counter-protesters gathered across the road shouting: “Whose streets? Our streets.”

Merseyside Police said it had put a dispersal zone in place to “help prevent potential criminality and disorder”.

The dispersal zone came into effect from 9am on Saturday and remains in place until midnight on Sunday.

The force said the order, alongside a Section 60 authority, had been implemented to support policing operations in relation to the planned procession and counter-protest in the County Road area.

Further north in Glasgow, rival protesters also clashed in the city centre as police struggled to keep opposing groups apart.

Officers were deployed at the top of Buchanan Street on Saturday after a ‘Glasgow Reclaims the Streets from Far-Right Hatred and Violence’ demonstration was met by a counter anti-immigration protest.

Scuffles broke out as police held the groups at bay, while insults and slogans were shouted across the dividing line.

The Reclaim the Streets demonstration had been organised following a far-right march in the city earlier in the week, itself held after a stabbing attack in Belfast.

Hundreds of protesters had descended on Glasgow city centre earlier in the week before many demonstrators, some with masked faces, made their way towards the River Clyde.

A large number of police officers were deployed in Glasgow city centre, while a police helicopter could be heard circling overhead.

Midland Street and Glasgow Bridge were closed to both pedestrians and vehicles by police as the operation continued.

Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators also gathered at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh before marching along Princes Street, shouting slogans and carrying blue flares and Saltires.

In Brighton, violence erupted as rival demonstrations descended into disorder, leaving families caught in the middle.

The confrontation saw the anti-immigration group South East Patriots march through Brighton city centre, while a large counter-protest dubbed the ‘Carnival Against Fascism’ gathered in opposition. 

Tensions escalated rapidly outside Brighton train station as the opposing groups came face-to-face, with police confirming arrests had already been made.

Eyewitnesses estimated around 4,000 anti-fascists faced off against 300 anti-immigration protesters, with officers warning of a major public order situation unfolding across the area.

With DJ Fatboy Slim, also known as Norman Cooke, spotted in the crowd joining the anti-fascist protesters holding his own sign in the air.

A heavy police presence was deployed across the city, with more than a hundred officers supported by mounted units, intelligence officers and special constables. 

At several points, officers formed cordons and pushed back crowds as violence flared, with police vans later brought in to reinforce barriers between the rival groups.

Agitators were reported to have infiltrated opposing crowds, triggering repeated skirmishes and a charge by mounted police. 

At one stage, both groups were contained in police ‘kettles’ outside Brighton train station and near the Grand Central pub, where officers worked to prevent further escalation.

Around the city mobile sound systems were brought in an attempt to turn the anti-fascist protest into one of a carnival.

People cheered and danced in the sun as police kettled the anti-immigration group close to the station.

That group had been planning on marching through the city with Union Jacks and St George’s flags aloft but it was unclear whether that would be permitted by police given the likelihood of flashpoints.

Parents with young children were among those caught up in the disorder, with officers intervening to help families escape the worst of the violence as the Carnival Against Fascism turned increasingly volatile.

One Brighton resident, Jane Dean, 53, said: ‘There are a lot of agitators trying to provoke violence which is not how I thought this would pan out.’It’s seriously dangerous and a couple of people have been injured’.

Another said: ‘This is a major public order issue. There are a large number of people here intent on causing trouble. There are literally hundreds of police officers on the streets.’

Police stepped in to help parents with young children caught up in the violence as the Carnival Against Fascism turned nasty.

One father said: ‘We’ve been caught in the middle of it and it’s not the atmosphere we were led to expect. We’re leaving for the safety of the children.’

At one flashpoint, around 30 officers formed a line to push back anti-fascist protesters, while mounted police reinforced the cordon as tensions threatened to boil over.

Brighton and Hove City Council said in advance of the protest: ‘A far-right rally is expected to take place in the city on Saturday, June 13.

‘We’re encouraging everyone to keep an eye on information from Sussex Police and report any suspicious activity, concerns or instances of hate crime online or by calling 101.

‘In an emergency, call 999. If you want to report hate crime anonymously, call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.’

Sussex Police insisted there were only small pockets of trouble at the start of rival protests with three people being arrested.

By lunchtime officers had successfully prevented further outbreaks of violence and scuffles.

NEWCASTLE: Organised by groups such as the Stand up to Racism North East, the Green Party, Majority, trade unions and the Newcastle Unites group are behind the ‘Unite to Stop the Far Right’ demonstration

More officers were drafted in to ensure peace was maintained with a cordon separating the two groups being bolstered with more officers.

Hundreds of police officers are also in Newcastle city centre amid rival demonstrations. 

Events from United to Stop the Far Right group and the Unite the Right group were both set to take place around lunchtime.

This comes amid rising tensions about the political approach taken over immigration across the UK. 

Organised by groups such as the Stand up to Racism North East, the Green Party, Majority, trade unions and the Newcastle Unites group are behind the ‘Unite to Stop the Far Right’ demonstration.

This was expected to see people present in the city centre – meeting near to the Civic Centre at 11am. The ‘unite the right’ demo follows a number of similar events over the past year, including those targeting hotels thought to be housing migrants.

Ahead of the events, Northumbria Police warned the public that a section 60 order was in place – this allows enhanced stop and search powers in aid of preserving public safety.