Demonstrators attack police in violent clashes as thousands gather in London
Boris Johnson condemns ‘racist thuggery’ after police pelted with missiles as far-right groups turn up for Black Lives Matter protests
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More than 100 people were arrested after violent demonstrators attacked police in central London, drawn by Black Lives Matter protests.
Football hooligans and far-right groups descended on the capital, vowing to “defend” memorials from protesters after the Westminster statue of Winston Churchill was covered up for protection.
Boris Johnson warned that anyone attacking police would face “the full force of the law”, and condemned the “racist thuggery”.
Hundreds of people defied a 5pm police curfew in the capital, after a day of clashes near the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square.
Demonstrators repeatedly assailed officers in riot gear with missiles, smoke grenades, bottles and flares.
There were a number of clashes with police in riot gear as crowds chanting "Tommy Robinson" and "England" while raising their arms surged towards lines of officers.
Violence also erupted at Waterloo station as activists chased counter-protesters, overwhelming police.
The home secretary condemned as “shameful” the “desecration” of a memorial to PC Keith Palmer, the policeman who was killed trying to defend parliament from a terror attack, when a man was seen urinating right next to it.
Catch up on events as they happened.
Good afternoon, welcome to our rolling coverage of Black Lives Matter protests across the UK today.
Hundreds of people have already gathered in central London, with many centred around the Cenotaph.
A large crowd of demonstrators are on Whitehall singing the national anthem. Several were seen wearing military-style hats or jackets.
A line of police officers has advanced, blocking more protesters from accessing the Cenotaph.
Paul Golding, leader of the far-right group Britain First, told PA news Agency they had turned out to "guard our monuments".
He said: "I am extremely fed up with the way that the authorities have allowed two consecutive weekends of vandalism against our national monuments.
"Anyone who comes along today to try and vandalise them will probably be dealt with by all of these Englishmen that turned up, and they're fed up as well."
Protesters told to be off streets by 5pm
Police in London have told those planning on joining Black Lives Matter demonstrations that they must be off the streets by 5pm today.
In an attempt to avoid a repeat of last week's violent clashes with police, protesters have been told they must stick to the planned route that will run from Hyde Park to Whitehall.
The force fear the anti-racism protests - that were sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US last month - could be hijacked by counter-demonstrations by far-right groups.
PM accused of seeking 'culture war'
Boris Johnson has been accused of “stoking division and fear” after he claimed the Black Lives Matter protests had been “hijacked by extremists intent on violence”, Zoe Tidman reports.
Critics suggested the prime minister was seeking a "culture war" to distract from his handling of the coronavirus crisis after he unequivocally rejected calls to remove statues of historic figures with links to racism and slavery.
Mr Johnson urged people to stay away from planned demonstrations this weekend, claiming they would “end in deliberate and calculated violence.
As several hundred demonstrators block roads around Parliament Square, police officers are encouraging them to move back onto the pavements.
A demonstrator from south London, who gave her name as Victoria, was in the square with a banner reading "All lives matter".
Discussing controversial statues, she told PA news agency: "It's the past. You've just gotta learn to live with it, they've done what they've done but it's still in the records they did good things.
"I've got things I don't want to remember, but I wouldn't go smashing things up because of it."
Other police officers remain in a line blocking access to the Cenotaph on Whitehall, with some holding shields.
(Jonathan Brady/PA)
Churchill's grandson condemns 'disgusting' defacing of statue
(Frank Augstein/AP)Sir Winston Churchill's grandson has said he was "deeply upset" after his grandfather's statue was defaced and has been boarded up ahead of more expected anti-racism protests in London.
Former Conservative minister Sir Nicholas Soames told the Daily Telegraph the incident, in which the word "racist" was scrawled on the monument, shows British society has "lost its compass".
It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel reportedly called for the statue in Parliament Square to be uncovered "immediately".
Sir Nicholas backed PM Boris Johnson's condemnation of disorder during last weekend's Black Lives Matter protests, and said London mayor Sadiq Khan was right to heed police advice and board up the statue and the nearby Cenotaph.
Police granted extra stop and search powers over concerns about weapons
Police have been granted extra stop and search powers covering large parts of central London after learning people are "coming into London to cause harm" during weekend protests and are "likely to bring weapons".
The section 60 order is in place from 11am on Saturday to 2am on Sunday in the areas of:
- Bayswater Road across to Holborn
- Kingsway to Elephant and Castle
- Kennington Lane to Battersea Park Road
- Kensington Road to Queenstown Road
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "As part of our planning for this weekend, we have learnt some people are coming into London to cause harm and are likely to bring weapons with them.
"The Met have been working hard to ensure those people who are coming to London to voice their concerns are kept safe. Unfortunately, we are also aware there are some who are distorting that message and we believe are intent on causing harm.
"Due to the information received, and our need to keep people safe, we are now implementing a section 60 into the areas of protests."
Clashes are feared this weekend between Black Lives Matter protesters, football hooligans, veterans and far-right groups who have vowed to “defend” memorials.
The London faction of Black Lives Matter cancelled an official demonstration on Saturday after the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA), Tommy Robinson and Britain First called for supporters to travel to the capital.
Our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden explains:
Police on horseback and with shields and helmets have arrived at the demonstration, and around 100 protesters have returned to the barrier of officers near the Cenotaph, chanting Lee Rigby's name and singing the national anthem, PA reports.
Glass bottles, including a large vodka bottle, and cans have been thrown towards the line of helmeted officers.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani has posted this video of protesters in Whitehall:
Protesters in Bristol have gathered around the plinth on which a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston stood unlike it was toppled last weekend.
In footage seen on social media, the police are present and are monitoring the situation in the city centre:
After being pulled down by Black Lives Matter protesters on Sunday, the statue of Colston was thrown into the Avon. It was retrieved by Bristol City Council on Thursday morning and will be housed in a museum at a later date.
Demonstrators have clashed violently with police officers in London's Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon.
Videos posted on social media show protesters throwing bottles and other objects at police, who are wearing protective gear.
The BBC's Vinnie O'Dowd has published this video on Twitter of the scuffles:
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