Far-right and anti-racist protesters clash in UK cities after Belfast riots | UK news
Far-right marches were held across the UK on Saturday, following violent unrest in Belfast and Southampton in recent days.
Scores of people were arrested as far-right groups clashed with anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstrators in Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield and Glasgow on Saturday afternoon.
Houses and vehicles were set on fire this week after Stephen Ogilvie, 44, lost an eye following a stabbing attack in Belfast on Monday evening. Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, is charged with attempted murder.
This week, five people were also jailed for violent disorder after riots broke out in Southampton in response to the death of Henry Nowak.
Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was wrongly arrested over false allegations of racism as he died from stab wounds inflicted by British Sikh Vickrum Digwa. The protests took place earlier this month, shortly after Digwa was jailed for Nowak’s murder.
A protest was held in Sheffield on Saturday by Raise the Colours, which describes itself as a “grassroots movement for unity and patriotism” and campaigns against illegal immigration.
South Yorkshire police said five people were arrested. Four people were charged with violating public order, while another was arrested on suspicion of assault. A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting an emergency worker.
Supt Charlotte Bloxham said the force’s operation was “complicated by a counter-protest group that did not suit the prevailing circumstances”.
But he added that officers “were able to manage the protest and counter-protest safely from start to finish.”
In Brighton, anti-immigrant group Southeastern Patriots and counter-protesters at an event called Carnival Against Fascism took to the streets.
South East Patriots said it was calling for stronger border control, enforcement of immigration laws and the deportation of illegal immigrants.
More than 20 anti-racism groups, including DJ Fatboy Slim, participated in the counter-demonstration. They said they had come together to “provide a united resistance” and show that “the far right is not welcome in Brighton”.
As images of small clashes between the two groups spread on social media, tensions intensified around Brighton train station.
Far-right demonstrators, many carrying St George flags and union jacks, were stopped by police on Terminus Road, which runs next to Brighton railway station. Both groups chanted insults and songs as counter-protesters confronted them at the station gates.
A Sussex police spokesman confirmed officers arrested a man on suspicion of breaching the peace and assaulting a police officer. Police said another person was detained in connection with an alleged public order violation in a separate incident at the same protest.
In Liverpool, protesters clashed in the city’s Walton area, with right-wing groups chanting slogans calling for mass deportations. Merseyside police say they have arrested a man on suspicion of disturbing the peace.
The unrest emerged after Andy Burnham said Britain was moving towards the “toxic” policies of the US under the current Labor leadership.
In his campaign speech on Saturday, the mayor of Greater Manchester said discourse was becoming increasingly polarized and “communities are no longer working together”.
Burnham, who hopes to return to Westminster in next week’s Makerfield by-election, asked those in attendance: “Does anyone here think we can stay on the path we’re on as a country?
“It doesn’t feel like it’s doable, right? We don’t feel like we’re going in the right direction. It doesn’t feel like we’re heading toward better lives for people.”
“Things are getting harder, politics is getting more polarized, and the path we’re on, if we’re not careful, is a path toward United States politics—polarized, toxic politics where people in communities no longer work together.”
Also on Saturday, rival protesters clashed in Glasgow after thousands of people descended on the city for a “take back our streets” demonstration organized by Stand Up Against Racism.
Anti-racism protesters gathered near a much smaller group of counter-protesters, who were fenced off from the main group by police.
Some of the counter-protest group performed what appeared to be a Nazi salute as the two groups gathered downtown.
Many of the counterprotesters, almost all men, were wearing ski masks or other face coverings.
The scene became tense as police tried to stop counterprotesters trying to break through the barriers.
Projectiles, including drinks cans, were thrown at the Stand Up to Racism group, while an egg was seen being thrown at counter-protesters.
While some of the counter-protesters waved union flags and some waved Israeli flags, the anti-racist section waved Palestinian, Ukrainian and Scottish flags.
