Far-right and anti-racist demonstrators clashed in Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield and Glasgow on Saturday, following recent violent unrest in Belfast and Southampton. Police made several arrests as rival groups took to the streets.
In Sheffield, five people were arrested during a protest by Raise the Colours, a group that campaigns against illegal immigration. South Yorkshire police confirmed four men were accused of public order offences, while another was arrested on suspicion of assault. A 17-year-old boy was also detained after an alleged attack on an emergency worker.
In Brighton, the anti-immigration group South East Patriots faced counter-protesters from Carnival Against Fascism, which included DJ Fatboy Slim. Minor skirmishes broke out near Brighton railway station, and police arrested two men—one for breach of the peace and assaulting an officer, and another for a public order offence.
In Liverpool, protesters clashed in the Walton area, with right-wing groups chanting for mass deportations. Merseyside police arrested a man on suspicion of breach of the peace. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, thousands attended a Stand Up to Racism demonstration, while a smaller counter-protest group was fenced off by police. Some counter-protesters were seen performing what appeared to be Nazi salutes.
The unrest comes after violent riots in Belfast and Southampton. In Belfast, homes and vehicles were set on fire following a knife attack on Stephen Ogilvie. In Southampton, five people were jailed for violent disorder after the death of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was arrested in error while dying of stab wounds.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned that the UK was on a path towards the “poisonous” politics of the US, citing increasing polarisation and a breakdown in community cohesion.
