Protests in Manchester, Belfast, Portsmouth, Hull, Stoke and Leeds

Protests in Manchester, Belfast, Portsmouth, Hull, Stoke and Leeds from opposing groups are taking place today causing chaos in the wake of the Southport tragedy.

More than 35 ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstrations are planned across the UK this weekend, with several counter-protests by groups such as Unite Against Fascism and Stand Up to Racism also set to take place.

Today, 24 rallies are taking place –  22 of which are Enough is Enough protests, one an anti-racist protest and one is said to be a peaceful vigil.

Currently the largest of these are taking place in Manchester – where 500 people have gathered since 9am – Portsmouth, Hull, Stoke and Leeds. 

Widespread disruption has torn through the country this week in the wake of the Southport stabbings, where three little girls were tragically killed.

The riots in cities including London and Hartlepool are thought to be triggered by misinformation spread online as to the identity of the teenager suspected of killing Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

Axel Rudakubana, 17, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, was eventually named as the suspect in a bid to stop the chaos.

Southport locals – including Elsie’s mother – have desperately pleaded for the violence to stop to no avail.

At 9am this morning, hundreds of counter-protesters gathered at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester ready to face off with the Enough is Enough members.

Around half an hour later, the protesters turned up dressed in balaclavas and England flags.

Police separated anti-immigration protesters chanting Tommy Robinson’s name from the counter-rally organised by anti-hate groups in Manchester.

Two men have been arrested, one for drunk and disorderly and another after storming into the group of counter-demonstrators.

Some of those attending draped themselves in England flags, while others wore balaclavas and sunglasses to disguise their faces. One attendee waved a sign reading: ‘Save our kids’.

Greater Manchester Police later issued a Section 34 dispersal order for the city centre after anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators had to be separated.

The notice, issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 at 11am, gives police the right to order people to leave a specified area if they are committing or are suspected to be committing, anti-social behaviour.

Mounted police and lines of officers were pictured containing demonstrators – many of whom wore masks, hats, sunglasses and hoodies.

Hundreds of protesters on both sides of railings set up to separate them could be seen in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens before each went on separate marches.

There is a heavy police presence in place, with officers swiftly intervening and detaining one man after a verbal spat, with chants of ‘Nazi scum off our streets’ heard from the crowd.

Photos show people holding signs reading ‘no to racism, no to fascism’ signs in the counter-protest in Manchester, where an estimated 500 people have turned up.

There are chants of ‘Tommy Robinson‘ heard from the protesting group – estimated to have around 150 activists – and ‘whose streets? our streets’ from the counter side, of around 350 people.

Metal fences were seen lying on the floor after protesters ripped them down as riot police and mounted officers rushed in to the crowd, where punches were being thrown.

Chants of ‘save our kids’ and ‘we want Starmer out’ were also heard from those gathered as the fighting broke out.

Separately, police in Belfast this afternoon deployed Land Rovers to keep an ‘anti-Islam’ protest separated from an anti-racism counter protest. This does not seem to be affiliated with Enough is Enough.

Eyewitnesses say protesters chanted ‘Islam out’ in front of Belfast City Hall as they unfurled Union flags. 

The rally was staged in response to calls on social media for ‘anti-Islamic’ protests.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) previously said it was aware of social media posts calling for protests including ‘specific calls to block roads using women and children’.

PSNI officers in riot gear were deployed with 4x4s to keep protesters separated – as fireworks were thrown in the direction of the police.

The force said on X it was aware of ‘several planned protests across Northern Ireland today and will be in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved.’

At 10am, a small crowd began to gather at Portsmouth’s Guildhall in Hampshire.

Images shared on social media showed many of those attending came with England and Union flags, while at least one attendee came with a sign bearing online conspiracy theories.

Others came with a flag bearing the inscription: ‘Stop mass immigration’.

Hampshire Constabulary said no incidents have been reported from the demonstration in Portsmouth this morning.

A small but concentrated gathering of people assembled on the steps of the Guildhall in the city centre and were met with a handful of counter-protesters.

It came after a demonstration outside Potters International Hotel in nearby Aldershot on Wednesday led to disruption as a ‘minority’ of protesters began shouting racist abuse.

At 12pm, protesters also began to congregate at Victoria Square in Hull.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: ‘Officers are currently in attendance at a protest that began in Hull City Centre this afternoon, Saturday 3 August.

‘A road closure has been put in place on Ferensway and we advise members of the public to avoid the area at this time.’

Video posted online also shows crowds of people outside of the Royal Hotel, next to Hull train station, with chants of ‘get them out’ heard. The hotel is one of three used to house asylum seekers in the area.

Social media was buzzing with locals warning each other to remain vigilant around Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent today.

One man posted a video warning people to avoid Hanley Town Hall and to ‘protect your places of worship’ but ‘don’t engage them in the streets’.

A Facebook user posted: ‘Not quite sure what’s happening up Hanley and Stoke today regarding the protests but please bear in mind people there are families of many different backgrounds and children out and about today on the school holidays shopping and enjoying the sun.

‘We have enough trouble going on on this world, let’s not add to it. Stay safe and peaceful.’

Local bus routes were diverted and will not serve some stops because of the rally in the centre.

Large crowds were seen gathering in Hanley shortly after 12pm as they marched through the town centre streets. 

Stoke-on-Trent’s MPs came together to condemn the protests in Hanley today, describing the participants as ‘far-right extremists’.

MP Gareth Snell posted on Facebook saying ‘racism is not patriotism’.

He said: ‘What is happening in Stoke-on-Trent today is not a reflection of the city I know and love.

‘Violence is not protest. Racism is not patriotism. Political extremism is not welcome.’

Dr Alison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South, and David Williams, Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove, released a joint statement: ‘Today, political extremists will be in our city. They are here not because they are concerned about out city or the people who live here. They are here for one thing. To spread division and sow the seeds of hate.

‘To create chaos among neighbours and attack our calues of peace, tolerance and respect.

‘They do this to further their own cause – with no concern for the damage and destruction they leave behind.

‘We urge our neighbours in Stoke-on-Trent not to be taken in by these far-right extremists.

‘Violence solves nothing. Our city has seen this before. We have previously stood tall against political extremists and when tomorrow comes and these people have left, it will again be the decent, fair and upstanding residents of Stoke-on-Trent who will be left to clear up the mess.

‘Out message to the far-right extremists is simple. You are not welcome in Stoke-on-Trent.’

Protesters could be seen facing up to police officers draped in England football flags and Union flags, and covering their faces.

There are around one hundreds police officers on duty, with several riot vans and dog units deployed to the centre.

Chants of ‘we hate Nazis’ by the anti-protest group were heard outside Hanley Town Hall.

Shops in the town centre, particularly along Stafford Street, were advised to close.

In Leeds, a pro-Palestine counter protest amassed  ahead of a planned march organised by English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

Chants of ‘England ’til I die’ were heard and the pro-Palestine march replied with ‘Nazi scum off our streets’.

Around 150 demonstrators wore St George’s Crosses and pro Reform UK placards wearing ‘free Tommy Robinson’ t-shirts.

Leeds Art Gallery has locked its doors ‘for safety purposes’ as the clashes occurred right outside its doors.

Sunderland Central Labour MP Lewis Atkinson said a link could be drawn between the disorder in his constituency on Friday and the ashes of the English Defence League (EDL), which was founded by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.

The EDL has disbanded but its supporters remain active, and Mr Atkinson said evidence suggested a Nazi offshoot of the group was involved in the violence in his constituency on Friday, in which a police station was torched and a mosque attacked.

Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hall said four officers were injured during the violence in the city and 10 people have been arrested.

He told reporters that those involved in the disorder should ‘expect to be met with the full force of the law’, adding: ‘This was not a protest, this was unforgivable violence and disorder.’

Chairman of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, Qari Asim, said the Muslim community is ‘deeply worried and anxious about the planned protests by the far right groups across the country’.

He said: ‘This intimidation and violence is the inevitable, devastating, outcome of rising Islamophobia that has been enabled to fester on social media, in parts of the mainstream media and by some populist leaders.’

Meanwhile, Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said ‘elements of the far right’ appear to be involved in the rioting while fellow contender Priti Patel denounced the ‘thuggery’ and said MPs should unite in condemnation.

Mr Atkinson said he was ‘really sad’ for Sunderland after a group of ‘racists’ descended on the city on Friday and attacked police, setting a police station and two cars on fire and targeting a mosque.

He added: ‘A night of idiots will not prevent us from building.’

Asked how the disorder had happened, Mr Atkinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that protests had been suggested by people in a number of social media groups in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

He said: ‘The far right, for example Stephen Yaxley Lennon, picked up on those and started promoting those and encouraging known far right individuals to join.’

Individuals who were involved with the EDL are ‘still out there’ and need to be kept under surveillance, he said.

Mr Jenrick said ‘if there is a case’ for proscribing the EDL it should be ‘considered’, when asked by the BBC.

Leadership contender and former home secretary Ms Patel demanded Parliament be recalled over the violence and criticised the Government response, saying: ‘Saying the nation is ‘braced for disorder’ is not only breathtakingly complacent, but both troubling and inadequate.

‘The Government is now in danger of appearing to be swept away with events rather than maintaining control of them.’

Thousands of people had turned out to pay their respects to Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, at a vigil in Southport on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer later condemned ‘thugs’ who had travelled to the town to cause unrest.

The unrest poses the biggest challenge yet of Sir Keir’s premiership, evoking the scale of public disorder last seen during the 2011 riots.

There were a series of riots in August 2011 in cities and towns across England, which started in Tottenham Hale, north east London, after the killing of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police on August 4.

Education Secretary and minister for women and equalities, and MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, Bridget Phillipson, posted on X, saying: ‘The scenes in our city centre tonight are shocking. We have seen unforgivable violence and thuggery.

‘The criminals involved in this appalling disorder must be identified, prosecuted and punished with the full force of the law.’

Rudakubana is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

He was remanded to youth detention accommodation and will next appear in court in October.