Three people have been arrested during an anti-migration protest in Manchester city centre after demonstrators were met by counter-protesters.
Officers arrested the trio on charges including breaching the dispersal order, assaulting an emergency worker, and breach of peace.
Britain First assembled with supporters outside Manchester Piccadilly station before taking part in a demonstration calling for “remigration and mass deportations”.
Counter-protesters from Resist Britain First and Stand Up to Racism Manchester met after 11am in the city centre.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the counter-protesters at a rally held in Piccadilly Gardens.
Manchester council leader Bev Craig also spoke out against protesters present in the city on Thursday.
She stated that Britain First was not welcome and called on residents to unite and “send a clear message that hate has no place in our city”.
Ahead of the gatherings, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) issued a 10-hour dispersal order in the city centre, which will remain in place until 8pm.
Hundreds of protestors carrying Union Flags and St George’s Crosses aloft could be seen making up the bulk of the Britain First presence.
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This move, aimed at preventing “anti-social behaviour, crime, harassment, alarm or distress”, gives officers extra powers to remove people from the area during the march and rallies.
Hundreds of protestors carrying Union Flags and St George’s Crosses aloft could be seen making up the bulk of the Britain First presence.
A large banner bearing the text “remigration” and a Britain First logo was held at the front of the march.
Their procession was delayed by approximately an hour, with officers holding back participants before the group eventually departed just after 1pm.
Officers were given extra powers to remove people from the area during the march and rallies
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REUTERSConfrontations erupted with the police at the rally throughout the afternoon.
Shortly before 1pm, GMP said three people have been arrested amid the Britain First rally and counter-protest.
The arrests were for a breach of the dispersal order, assault on an emergency worker and breach of peace. People attending the protests were also spotted clashing with police.
Commuters in central Manchester were warned that the scenes would lead to extensive delays.
Counter-protesters made up of groups including Resist Britain First and Stand Up to Racism Manchester met after 11am in the city centre
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“Due to disruption in the city centre, many bus services are currently experiencing severe delays or operating on a diverted route,” Bee Network wrote on X.