Police on horseback have clashed with anti-racism counter protesters during a protest in Bristol city centre this afternoon.
A planned march from the ‘Bristol Patriots’ started at 12.15pm today (Saturday, March 7), with a group of around 40 people meeting at the Cenotaph earlier today.
Hundreds of counter-protesters under an anti-racism and anti-fascism coalition also gathered and began chants as the other group prepared to start their march around Broadmead.
The march set off shortly after the planned time, with a heavy police presence escorting the crowd, but officers blocked Union Street with vans, lines of officers and mounted police at about 12.30pm.
As officers struggled to clear a path to keep the groups apart, they penned protesters in near the Tesco store for just over half an hour, with counter-protesters unfurling a banner across the road.
Clash between horseback police officers and anti-racism counter protesters during protests in Bristol this afternoon -Credit:Paul Gillis Photo
The group set off again, with scuffles seen outside Primark, and they were halted again on the Horsefair near Cabot Circus and came to another impasse.
At one point police officers managed to create a 50-yard buffer zone as around 40 of the ‘Bristol Patriots’ as they continued their slow march around to Cabot Circus
As Bristol Patriots headed back towards the Cenotaph, counter-protesters can be heard shouting “Bristol is anti-fascists”.
Scenes of violence erupted in the city as the police battled to hold back hundreds of counter protesters and allow the march to pass into Haymarket. There were chaotic scenes near Primark as police are pushing and shoving counter protesters out of the way.
Clash between horse mounted police officers and anti-racism counter protesters during protests in Bristol on Saturday March 7, 2026 -Credit:Paul Gillis Photo
It was during a skirmish at the Horsefair that officers on horseback used batons to strike some of the counter-protesters and push them back as violence broke out.
The police have been accused of using brute force to push through down Haymarket, shoving counter protesters back with police horses. Police just deployed batons and struck the counter protesters after a mounted push.
We have asked Avon and Somerset Constabulary for a comment on the use of horseback officers and batons against some of the protesters.
On X (Twitter), the force said: “Officers have faced resistance while facilitating the peaceful protest to take place through Bristol city centre.
“Officers and mounted units remain in company with both the protest and counter-protest and are using dispersal tactics to move the march forward.”
Want the latest Bristol breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.