More than a dozen people have been detained after flares were thrown towards the gates of Downing Street at a protest in London following the Southport stabbings.
A few hundred protesters chanting "Rule Britannia", "save our kids" and "stop the boats" attempted to leave the pavement opposite Downing Street in defiance of strict Metropolitan Police conditions on the protest in Whitehall.
Protesters, many of whom were drinking alcohol, began marching towards Parliament Square after 7pm, where some threw flares onto a statue of Winston Churchill.
Protesters were reportedly attempting to break a police line on Whitehall to access Parliament Square, while bottles and cans were thrown at police in riot gear.
Some ran past police towards Trafalgar Square. Officers formed a new line outside the Cabinet Office.
Earlier officers put on riot gear as demonstrators chanting Tommy Robinson’s name surrounded The Cenotaph.
The Met Police has warned swift action will be taken to curb any violence at the demonstration.
The ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstrators have been ordered to disperse by 8.30pm.
Met Superintendent Neil Holyoak said: “Following the tragic events in Southport, it is understandable the public have strong feelings about this shocking incident - but the subsequent violent, unlawful disorder that unfolded was completely unacceptable and driven by misinformation.
“Everyone has a right to protest and we continue to balance the right to lawful protest with everyone’s right to go about their lives without fear or serious disruption - which is why we have put conditions in place and deployed more officers across London.
“We are speaking to the protest organisers as well as local community groups, businesses and religious leaders, in particular the Muslim community who have been impacted by this week’s disorder in Southport.“I urge everyone to exercise their right to protest calmly and within the law.
“Any disorder will be dealt with swiftly.”
An earlier protest on Tuesday night in Southport descended into violent scenes of “thuggery,” after the stabbings which left three young girls dead.
Merseyside Police said more than 50 officers were injured amid the disorder, with some of those involved thought to be members of the far-right English Defence League.
Tuesday’s earlier protest saw at least four men arrested after police were pelted with stones and bottles and cars were set alight.
The “thuggish” scenes marked a contrast to the peaceful vigil in honour of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in the town, with ministers and community leaders condemning those who had chosen to hijack the tragedy for violence.
Eight other children also suffered stab wounds in Monday’s attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event.Five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured.
A magistrate on Wednesday granted detectives more time to question the 17-year-old suspect who has been held in custody since Monday.
The law allows officers up to 96 hours, or four days, to hold a suspect in custody for serious crimes.
The suspect, born in Cardiff, cannot be named for legal reasons.
