Police clashed with demonstrators at a far-right protest in as rival groups faced off.
Hundreds gathered outside Manchester Piccadilly station in Manchester on Saturday as supporters of far-right group Britain First prepared to march into the city.
The rally saw crowds waving Union Jacks and St George’s flags as they lined the streets.
But they were met by counter-protesters organised by Stand Up To Racism, who staged a demonstration opposite the anti-immigration group.
Manchester City Council said Greater Manchester Police had a ‘robust operational plan’ in place to manage the protests, with a focus on public safety and maintaining order.
The council said a number of ‘regular’ protests are also expected on Saturday, adding some ‘may occur across multiple locations in the city centre’.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: ‘We respect and facilitate the right to lawful protest.
‘As ever, appropriate plans will be put in place with the organisers and local partners to minimise disruption for those who live, work, and visit our city centre.’
This is not the only demonstration happening this week.
As previously reported, anti-migrant demonstrators faced off against anti-racism counter-protesters this evening outside a hotel on the south coast used to house asylum seekers.
Protesters gathered outside the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, Hampshire, on Friday waving flags and calling for the hotel’s closure.
Anti-migrant demonstrations have taken place across the South of England today, in locations including Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth.
All the protests are taking place at locations where the government are housing migrants while their asylum applications are processed.
In Southsea, counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth staged an event at the same location, holding signs reading ‘Refugees welcome’.
The day of protests on the south coast follows similar recent unrest in Epping, where a series of demonstrations have taken place calling for the closure of The Bell Inn, a hotel used on and off for the last five years as accommodation for asylum seekers.
A ring of steel was also erected around The Britannia International Hotel, a luxury four-star lodging in London’s Canary Wharf that has been converted to house migrants, following sweeping protests.
An Epping-style protest to stop migrants being housed above a town’s shops took to the streets on Wednesday in Waterlooville, Hampshire – as thousands of locals warned of ‘mayhem’ if the plans go ahead.
