Police clash with far-right protestors in London

Far-right groups travelled to London on the premise of "defending" statues and memorials from being defaced in anti-racist protests - which didn't take place.

A group of demonstrators in London today (Source: @crewislife Twitter)
A group of demonstrators in London today (Source: @crewislife Twitter)

Police were pelted with bottles during scuffles with demonstrators in London, where thousands gathered despite warnings to avoid protests.

There was violence on the streets of the UK capital on Saturday, where far-right groups had travelled on the premise of "defending" statues and memorials from being defaced in anti-racist protests.

Reports say extreme right-wing protesters, some brandishing neo-Nazi regalia, clashed with police.

The Black Lives Matter group in London had earlier called off its official demonstration planned for Saturday due to concerns over safety and planning.

This, however, did not stop various groups from around the country, including right-wing activists, from descending on the city and clashing with police while claiming to be protecting symbols of British history.

Statues of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Cenotaph war memorial were both boarded up before the demonstrations, in order to stop them from becoming flashpoints for violence. Both monuments had been vandalized in anti-racism protests held the week before. Authorities also fenced off other statues in Parliament Square, including memorials to Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln.