![\"Hundreds](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_BRI_PG_170525protest-763.jpg\")
Hundreds of anti fascist protestors clash with police in central Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\nAround 100 protesters and 250 counter-protesters clashed at the weekendHundreds of anti fascist protestors clash with police in central Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n
Three people arrested at a demonstration in Bristol have been released.<\/p>\n
A total of five people were arrested on Saturday, May 17, when protesters calling for “mass deportations” and counter-protesters with Antifascism Action banners clashed near the Cenotaph.<\/p>\n
Around 100 people from the UK Independence Party (UKIP) were met by around 250 counter-demonstrators.<\/p>\n
Avon and Somerset Police were on duty during the protests and five people were arrested on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Three of these have since been released with no further action taken, a force spokesperson said in an update.<\/p>\n
Two others were given out-of-court disposals.<\/p>\n
Avon and Somerset Police said on Saturday that a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, a 25-year-old man on suspicion of theft and a further two women and a man on suspicion of breach of the peace.<\/p>\n
More than 160 officers were deployed to the scene, including drone, dog and horse units, and officers from the cycle team.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp group<\/a>Privacy Notice<\/a><\/p>\n Silver Commander for the protest, Ch Insp Jason Sims said both groups were “calm” and “engaged with officers,” but added there were a “handful of clashes between the two sides”.<\/p>\n “I would like to take the opportunity to praise the officers and staff involved in the policing of this event,” he said.<\/p>\n “The feedback I have received so far is that officers acted professionally and proportionately to keep the members of the public safe and to facilitate the protests.<\/p>\n “A large number of our officers cancelled their days off with their loved ones to facilitate the policing of this event, which enabled us to keep the public safe, and I cannot thank them enough for making that personal sacrifice.”<\/p>\n UKIP protesters met near the Colson Statue from around 1pm on Saturday, with the counter-demonstrators gathering at the Cenotaph at 11.30am.<\/p>\n Both sides had dispersed by around 3.45pm and both St Augustine’s Parade and Colson Avenue were closed until shortly before 4pm.<\/p>\n