Police have made arrests in Manchester in a weekend of violent clashes on Britain's streets (Image: Kenny Brown)
Arrests have been made amid clashes between far-right protesters and anti-racism campaigners in Manchester city centre.
Images from Piccadilly Gardens show officers detaining a number of people as officers from Greater Manchester Police battled to keep protesters and counter-protesters apart on Saturday (August 3).
There were chants of "Whose streets? Our streets" and the assumed name of far-right figurehead "Tommy Robinson", whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, founder of the English Defence League (EDL).
Greater Manchester Police notifed the public earlier today that a dispersal notice had been authorised across the city centre in order to help police deal with the protests.
The section 34 notice means officers have powers to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour until 7pm.
Police across Britain have been bracing for more violence after another night of rioting by far-right protesters saw three officers hospitalised after a tense stand-off outside a mosque in northeast England.
Violent protests over the past few days erupted after a 17-year-old was arrested over Monday's stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class that left three girls dead and 10 wounded.
It comes after false rumors spread on social media that the boy was a Muslim and an immigrant, which fuelled anger among far-right supporters.
Greater Manchester Police officers have made arrests amid protests in the city centre (Image: Getty)
Groups of protesters from the far right, and Stand Up to Racism, stand off in Manchester (Image: Manchester Evening News)
In Manchester, the far-right protest was held under the banner, "Enough is Enough", with a crowd marching through Deansgate, Albert Square and Moseley Street before returning to Piccadilly Gardens.
A "Stop the Far Right" counter-protest set off at about 11am in the direction of Portland Street. The Manchester Evening News put the total number of protesters at 500, with 150 attending the "Enough is Enough" demonstration.
Police attempted to steer the counter-protesters away from Piccadilly Gardens in a bid to avoid the two sides clashing. Images showed crowds being jockeyed by police and people being detained.
Greater Manchester Police said at 1.30pm that two arrests had been made, although one of those was on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, with the possibility this was person wasn't linked to the protest groups.
Chief Inspector Natasha Evans said in a statement issued on Saturday morning: "People have a legal right to participate in peaceful protest, however where people are intent on breaking the law, we will take action."
Police on horseback disperse protesters at Piccadilly Gardens (Image: Getty Images)
A protestor is detained by the police in Piccadilly Gardens (Image: Getty)
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Dozens of protests have been planned for this weekend in the wake of the Southport stabbings, with campaign group Hope Not Hate having identified more than 30 planned across the UK.
More than 100 protesters were arrested on Wednesday (July 31) in Whitehall, where bottles and cans were thrown at police. Violence broke out in Hartlepool, County Durham and in Manchester outside a Holiday Inn on Oldham Road.
Rioters battled police in the streets of Sunderland city centre on Friday (August 2) after a planned protest linked to the Southport stabbings.
Hundreds of people gathered in Keel Square, many of them draped in England flags, with members of the crowd chanting in support of "Tommy Robinson" and others shouting insults about Islam.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show a fire at a city centre police office, which was marked permanently closed on Google Maps and was no longer listed on a police station finder on Northumbria Police's website.
Northumbria Police said in a post on X that its officers had been "subjected to serious violence", adding three officers were taken to hospital.
Eight people have so far been arrested for a range of offences, including violent disorder and burglary, the force added.
About 150 protesters joined a protest under the banner, 'Enough is Enough' (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Far-right activists held posters reading, 'Stop the boats', during their protest (Image: Getty)
The far right drew condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum. Sunderland Central Labour MP Lewis Atkinson said a link could be drawn between the disorder in his constituency on Friday and the ashes of the English Defence League.
Despite having disbanded, EDL supporters remain active and Mr Atkinson said evidence suggested a Nazi offshoot of the group was involved in the violence in his constituency.
Meanwhile, Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said "elements of the far right" appeared to be involved in the rioting while fellow contender Priti Patel rebuked the "thuggery" and said MPs should unite in condemnation.
Mr Atkinson said he was "really sad" for Sunderland after a group of "racists" descended on the city on Friday evening and attacked police officers, setting a police station and two cars on fire, and targeting a mosque. He added: "A night of idiots will not prevent us from building."
