Several protesters were arrested by police after conflicting groups gathered to demonstrate against the use of a hotel to accommodate asylum seekers.
The Metropolitan Police have set up conditions for a protest and counter-protest outside the Thistle City Barbican hotel in Islington, north London.
Earlier, people believed to be migrants watched the protests from hotel windows, some waving and blowing kisses, while protesters outside chanted slogans and banged drums.
A man wearing an England football shirt has been detained by police after clashing with officers.
A group of anti-fascist protesters blocked an intersection near the hotel.
The police then made their way through the crowd and detained several people, dragging them out by their arms and legs.
The group was then led off the road and officers informed them that they were violating the terms of the demonstration and then surrounded the protesters.
At around 3.30pm, police reported nine arrests, including seven suspected of breaching provisions of the Public Order Act.
A protest and counter-protest are also taking place in Newcastle near The New Bridge Hotel.
The Metropolitan Police said the protest against the use of the Islington hotel had been organised by local residents under the slogan “Thistle Barbican must be demolished – locals say no”.
There is also a counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism, backed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other groups including Finsbury Park Mosque and the Islington Labour Party.
Police said the protest against the hotel shelter was “supported by groups outside the local community, which is likely to increase the number of participants”.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
