Hundreds gather across south for counter-protests
About 300-400 counter-protesters assembled in Southampton
- Published
Hundreds of counter-protesters have marched in the south in anticipation of planned anti-immigration demonstrations.
It follows a week of disturbances in parts of England and Northern Ireland following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport - with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.
Roughly 300-400 people assembled at Grosvenor Square in Southampton, chanting "racists go home" and "racism off our streets".
About 50 anti-immigration protesters also arrived in the area on Wednesday evening, with the two groups being kept apart by police.
In the past nine days, there have been outbreaks of violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland, including Plymouth, Sunderland, Belfast, Rotherham, Manchester and London.
Anti-immigration protesters in Southampton were faced by a much larger counter-demonstration
On Wednesday, the country was braced for further disorder, with police preparing for more than 100 possible events.
In the south, shops were shut and public transport timetables were altered in anticipation of the unrest - including in Reading, where roughly 70 people gathered to oppose about 40 anti-immigration protesters.
In Oxford, several hundred people also assembled, holding banners saying "refugees welcome".
Dozens of counter-protesters also gathered outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth, which has been used to house asylum seekers.
Hundreds of people gathered in Oxford, chanting and waving signs
In Hampshire, about 40 people with union flags gathered near Portsmouth's cross channel ferry terminal and blocked Mile End Road.
Police kept clearing the group, who were chanting “save our kids”, but they kept running back on to the road, blocking the carriageway in both directions.
There was one arrest, the BBC understands.
Protesters in Southampton chanted "racism off our streets"
In Aldershot, police officers had to rush to separate opposing groups.
Protesters holding "Stand Up To Racism" placards had been chanting "refugees are welcome here" and a group across the road had been chanting back "stop the boats".
Some of them then walked towards the Stand Up To Racism group, stopping traffic, and angry shouting occurred, with police officers rushing into the road to prevent the groups getting too close to one another.
Counter-protesters also congregated in Bournemouth
Police appeared to arrest someone near the start of the demonstration in Southampton, and Ch Supt Tony Rowlinson, of Hampshire Constabulary, said earlier that criminal acts would "not be tolerated".
City council leader Laura Fielker said earlier that disinformation on social media was being used to "incite hate and increase tensions".
"Anyone seeking to come to Southampton to whip up criminal, violent or antisocial behaviour is not welcome, and I urge anyone taking to the streets in protests or counter-protests to do so lawfully and peacefully,” she said.
Police were called to clear anti-immigration protesters who blocked a major road in Portsmouth
Ch Supt Tony Rowlinson said he understood "the desire to counter" violent activity was "strong", but asked people to allow the police to manage it.
In Reading, street traders on Broad Street packed up early while most shops in Union Street had shutters down.
Protesters holding union flags assembled in Portsmouth and blocked Mile End Road
Oxford city councillor Alex Powell shared images of closed shops in Oxford on X, external, and said it was "horribly sad to see".
Thames Valley Police warned people to be "vigilant to the misleading comments" circulating on social media.
Counter-protesters also assembled in Reading
Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland condemned the disturbances around the country, including those in Weymouth on Sunday in which two police officers were injured.
"We deplore the acts of racism and hatred that have unfolded. They are a stark reminder of the work still needed to push bigotry out of our society forever."
Shops across the south have closed early, with some putting up boards ahead of potential disorder
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