A police officer on a motorbike was kicked and knocked off his vehicle by a demonstrator in Liverpool following clashes.
Eyewitnesses have reported seeing children who were in the city centre to see the Disney Magic cruise ship in tears as they left the scene when skirmishes broke out.
Police separated groups of demonstrators outside the Cunard Building in Liverpool. Anti-fascist protesters sang: “Where’s your Tommy gone?” a reference to former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
At one point a group of men with masks and hoods up appeared to try and charge police officers who stood with batons.
Heavy police presence as people protest in Liverpool
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Police in riot gear in Liverpool City Centre
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Police officers face protesters in Liverpool
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Merseyside Police said a section 60 order giving officers greater stop-and-search powers has been introduced for Liverpool. The force said the order was put in place at 12pm on Saturday and will stay active for a 12-hour period until midnight.
The order incorporates Liverpool city centre and also includes areas of Kensington and Toxteth. Superintendent Dawn McNally said: “A number of section 60s have been introduced in Merseyside since the disgraceful disorder we witnessed in Southport on Tuesday evening.
“They give officers on the ground extra powers to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality as we seek to keep the public safe.
“We will continue to deploy section 60 orders wherever we believe they can help our efforts to keep people safe.”
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A police officer kicks a flare thrown by protesters outside the Liver Building in Liverpool during a stand-off between anti-racism protesters and the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration
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A line of police moved in to separate groups of demonstrators who met at in Liverpool. A crowd, some with union flags, who had gathered shouting “stop the boats” were greeted by anti-fascist protesters who marched from a rally.
Chants of “Tommy Robinson” were greeted by shouts of “Nazi scum, off our streets.” Some cans were thrown from one group towards the other.
More to come…