Police have made six arrests in the centre of Manchester this afternoon after anti racism protesters clashed with those of the far right
Supporters of the political party Britain First gathered outside Piccadilly station while a large-scale counter-protest led by groups including Stand Up To Racism Manchester and the Resist Britain First coalition staged their own counter protest
Police had set up a Section 34 dispersal order in anticipation of clashes
So far they have made six arrests in relation to public order, breach of peace, assault on an emergency worker and breach of dispersal notice.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: “We understand there will be significant disruptions across the city centre, and whilst we continue to facilitate the right to peaceful protest, our priority remains the safety of the public.
“To ensure this, we have deployed a significant number of resources, including our mounted and dog units as well as over 50 additional officers to support.
“We will continue working with local communities, businesses and partner organisations to ensure these protests remain safe and respectful for those involved.”
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