Thousands of counter-protesters take to UK streets as far-right unrest fails to materialise | UK News

Counter-protesters have turned out in UK cities amid warnings of at least 100 far-right marches being planned for Wednesday night.

People were on the streets of towns and cities including Bristol, London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Brighton.

More than 6,000 specialist police had been mobilised amid fears of a repeat of the violence seen around the country over the past week.

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Some businesses closed early and others chose to board up windows ahead of an anticipated 8pm start time.

Solicitors and other agencies who work with asylum seekers had been warned they could be targeted.

But as the night progressed it appeared the mass far-right protests had failed to materialise, with counter-demonstrators instead taking the initiative.

In Birmingham, several hundred anti-racism protesters – some carrying signs such as “no place for hate” and “bigots out of Brum” – gathered outside a migrant centre in the Jewellery Quarter.

A large group then marched into the centre of the city, with no signs of any far-right groups in the area.

Several thousand also turned out in Bristol, said Sky’s Dan Whitehead, who said it was a calm and relaxed atmosphere with some people playing music.

Shops, cafes and pubs in the city’s West Street – located near a law office that deals with immigration – were boarded up by early evening.

However, Whitehead said the far-right groups were nowhere to be seen and that police were keeping a low-profile on the fringes of the crowd.

“The counter-protests have nothing to counter… This is Bristol sending a message,” he said.

‘Love migrants, hate racism’

A large crowd also flooded a high street in Walthamstow, east London, with signs reading “love migrants, hate racism” and “stop the right”.

In Liverpool, hundreds stood guard outside a day centre for asylum seekers after reports suggested a far-right protest would take place there.

Sky’s Nick Martin said there were chants of “migrants are welcome” and “fascists out” as people banged drums and police watched from the sidelines.

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The Stand Up To Racism group tweeted photos of the counter-protests alongside the words “this is what a mass movement looks like”.

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said there were reports of “small pockets” of far-right protesters in places such as Portsmouth, Brighton and Blackpool.

However, he said worries it could be the biggest night of trouble so far appeared to have faded away.

He said earlier intelligence suggesting 100 far-right protests had been “credible” and that police would now be analysing how they managed to avoid that “nightmare” scenario.

The disorder began last week in Southport, after three young girls were stabbed to death in the Merseyside town.

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Over the next few days violence spread to a number of towns and cities amid false claims the attacker was an asylum seeker.

The prime minister and police have warned any troublemakers will be dealt with severely and rapidly.

Dozens have already been in court, with some sentenced to up to three years for getting involved in the disorder.