Mounted Police Clash with Counter-Protesters as Violence Breaks Out During 'Bristol Patriots' March
Police on horseback have been accused of wielding batons and using them to strike counter-protesters during a 'Bristol Patriots' march in Bristol city centre. The incident occurred on Saturday, March 7, 2026, as tensions flared between far-right demonstrators and anti-fascist groups.
Chaotic Scenes in Bristol City Centre
A group called the 'Bristol Patriots' had planned a 'unity march' in Bristol, with around 40 people beginning their procession at 12.15pm after meeting at the Cenotaph. Hundreds of counter-protesters, representing a coalition of anti-fascism and anti-racist organisations, also gathered and began chanting as the 'Bristol Patriots' prepared to start their march around Broadmead.
The march set off shortly after the planned time, with a heavy police presence escorting the crowd. However, officers quickly blocked Union Street with vans, lines of officers, and mounted police at approximately 12.30pm. As police struggled to clear a path to keep the groups apart, they penned protesters in near the Tesco store for just over half an hour, with counter-protesters unfurling a banner across the road.
Violence Erupts as Police Battle to Control Crowds
The group set off again, with scuffles seen outside Primark, and they were halted again on the Horsefair near Cabot Circus, leading to another impasse. Police officers managed to create a 50-yard buffer zone as around 40 of the 'Bristol Patriots' continued their slow march around to Cabot Circus.
As Bristol Patriots headed back towards the Cenotaph, counter-protesters could be heard shouting "Bristol is anti-fascists". Scenes of violence erupted in the city as the police battled to hold back hundreds of counter-protesters and allow the march to pass into Haymarket. There were chaotic scenes near Primark as police pushed and shoved counter-protesters out of the way.
Mounted Police Accused of Using Batons
During a skirmish at the Horsefair, officers on horseback were seen using batons to strike some of the counter-protesters and push them back as violence broke out. The police have been accused of using brute force to push through down Haymarket, shoving counter-protesters back with police horses. Police just deployed batons and struck the counter-protesters after a mounted push.
Bristol Live has asked Avon and Somerset Constabulary for comment on the use of horseback officers and batons against some of the protesters. The heavy police presence included mounted units, vans, and numerous officers on foot, all deployed to manage the escalating tensions between the two groups.
Key Details of the Incident:- The 'Bristol Patriots' march began at 12.15pm with around 40 participants.
- Hundreds of counter-protesters gathered under anti-fascist and anti-racist banners.
- Police blocked Union Street at 12.30pm with vans, officers, and mounted police.
- Violence erupted near Primark and the Horsefair, with mounted police using batons.
- Counter-protesters chanted "Bristol is anti-fascists" as the march proceeded.
The situation remains tense as authorities investigate the use of force, with many calling for accountability and transparency in policing such demonstrations. The events highlight ongoing divisions in the community and the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining order during politically charged protests.
