Thousands of anti-racism protesters have held marches across the UK - including around 5,000 who gathered outside Reform UK’s headquarters in London.
Demonstrators joined Stand up to Racism’s gathering which met outside the party’s headquarters in Victoria, central London, on Saturday.
They chanted “refugees are welcome here”, while some accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of spreading “dangerous rhetoric”.
The group then marched through Whitehall and towards Trafalgar Square to listen to speeches from activists.
Organisers said the turnout of around 5,000 people showed the depth of support for refugees and other minority groups targeted in recent disorder, amid fears of further violence this weekend.
It echoed scenes seen in locations such as Walthamstow on Wednesday night, when thousands of people turned out for anti-racism protests, to counter planned anti-immigration demonstrations.
Thousands more people took part in similar protests in support of refugees on Saturday, in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The protests came as Sir Keir Starmer cancelled his holiday plans, as the Government continues to focus on its response to days of unrest.
The Prime Minister had been expected to set off on a summer break to Europe this weekend with his family.
But it was understood he will instead work from Number 10 and Chequers this weekend and next week.
On Friday, Sir Keir reiterated that police should remain on “high alert” this weekend.
He told broadcasters a ramped-up police response after days of disorder and swiftly moving cases through the courts had had an impact, but his message was to stay on “high alert” to “make sure our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure”.
Samira Ali, who made the closing speech at Saturday’s London demonstration, told the PA news agency: “We feel like we have turned the tide. It’s a testament to our mobilisation that they failed to come out.
“They would not have been stopped if it was not for our mobilisation.”
Another speaker, Gary McFarlan, 63, told the crowd: “A few days ago, the atmosphere was very different. Lots of people were very scared, worried about coming out on to the streets, thinking, ‘Will I get a half-brick in my head? Will I get kicked in the face by a Nazi?’. We turned it around this week.”
Ms Ali said organisers had chosen Reform UK’s headquarters as the starting point for the demonstration because of Mr Farage’s stance on immigration.
She said: “We were protesting outside of Reform UK, against the likes of Nigel Farage and his dangerous rhetoric.
“The constant rhetoric about ‘stop the boats’, about immigration being a problem, about refugees and Muslims being to blame in society. This is all rhetoric that’s been replicated on the far-right riots. That’s created the toxic atmosphere in which the far right have been able to build.
“That’s why we brought the protest to his doorstep today, because we believe he has questions to answer for.”
Ms Ali dismissed the suggestion that Saturday’s demonstration would mark the end of the counter-protest movement after rioting.
She said: “We want this movement to reach into every area, every workplace, every community. The far right is on the back foot now, but we’re going to keep pushing.”
As protesters marched down Whitehall, a GB News reporter said his broadcast had been interrupted after a demonstrator “attacked” one of the crew.
Charlie Peters, who said he had been reporting on the “mostly peaceful” protest since it started, told the PA news agency: “As we approached Downing Street one of the protesters recognised us as GB News and people started chanting ‘GB News off our streets’.
“One man got close and started gesticulating towards the camera while we were filming and tried to stop us broadcasting. In doing so, he then attacked one of my colleagues.”
A man was briefly removed from the march by police.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said: “A video has been shared online showing an incident involving a GB News camera crew and a protester in Whitehall earlier today.
“It is important that the press are able to report freely, including at protests, without being subject to harassment, abuse or intimidation.
“The footage released appears to show a protester trying to obstruct a GB News camera crew as they reported, by putting his hand up to the lens.
“As he does so, a man who was working as security for the camera crew intervenes and pushes him away.
“Officers moved in quickly to prevent any further escalation. No allegations were made at the time and both parties went their separate ways.
“We have confirmed with GB News that they do not wish to take the matter further.”
Officers said no arrests had been made.
Saturday’s demonstration in central London came as thousands of people marched in similar anti-racism demonstrations in other UK cities.
About 15,000 people took part in an anti-racism rally in Belfast, following a week of unrest and disorder in the city.
The demonstration began at Writer’s Square and made its way to City Hall where speeches were later taking place.
Demonstrators in Cardiff also took part in another anti-racism protest organised by Stand Up to Racism.
Hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators also gathered at rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
