There is a heavy police presence with a number of people reportedly having been detained
Protesters in Liverpool city centre on Saturday afternoon
Hundreds of protesters are facing-off in rival demos in Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) advertised a gathering in St George’s Place in the city centre for a march calling for ‘mass deportations.’
They said on social media they wanted to ‘reclaim Liverpool from the far-left and send a message to the government.’
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism is also taking place.
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They said they were there to ‘oppose fascist UKIP in Liverpool.’
And the two groups have faced-off amid a heavy police presence this afternoon, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Police have kept the two groups apart
They initially demonstrated outside St George’s Hall before moving to near Queen Square bus station.
The UKIP protesters were said to be surrounded by the counter-demonstrators, with police separating them.
Some surrounding routes have been blocked off with a helicopter hovering overhead. According to the Echo, a number of people have been detained, but its unclear which side they were from.
The counter-protesters could be heard chanting ‘whose city, our city’ and ‘refugees are welcome here.’
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UKIP’ supporters are holding banners saying ‘send them back’ and ‘illegal criminals.’ UKIP leader Nick Tenconi, flanked by security guards, has been spotted in attendance.
He could earlier be heard telling his followers, ‘we don’t care if the communists are born here, get them out.’
A Section 34 dispersal order and Section 60 order, which gives police extended powers to stop and search people and order them to remove face covering, are in force.
Merseyside Police said they were in force ‘ to help prevent possible criminality and disorder’ but did not reference the protests.
The UKIP march is due to finish near Liverpool Women’s Hospital in Toxeth. City leaders earlier said the timing and route of the rally raises ‘serious questions about intent and impact.’
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said: “The hospital is in close proximity to the African Caribbean Centre, which will be hosting a significant community celebration. The potential for disruption, distress, and intimidation in these spaces is unacceptable.”
Elsewhere across the country, demonstrations under the ‘Abolish Asylum System’ slogan are being held in major towns and cities – including in Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley in Surrey and Canary Wharf in central London.
A separate batch of protests organised by Stand Up to Racism are being held in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Newcastle, Wakefield, Horley and Long Eaton in Derbyshire.