Far-Right vs Anti-Racism Protests Erupt Across UK Cities Following Belfast Riots

Key Points

• Police made several arrests as far-right groups clashed with anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstrators in Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Glasgow on Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Far-right marches took place across the UK on Saturday following violent unrest in Belfast and Southampton in recent days
• In Belfast, homes and vehicles were set on fire after Stephen Ogilvie, 44, lost an eye in a knife attack on Monday evening; Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder
• Five people were jailed for violent disorder after riots broke out in Southampton in response to the death of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student arrested in error over false racism claims while dying of stab wounds inflicted by Vickrum Digwa, a British Sikh
• In Sheffield, Raise the Colours held a protest; South Yorkshire police arrested five people, including a 17-year-old boy detained after an alleged attack on an emergency worker
• In Brighton, South East Patriots and Carnival Against Fascism counter-protesters took to the streets; Fatboy Slim entertained at the counter-demonstration with more than 20 anti-racist groups participating
• In Liverpool, protesters clashed in the Walton area as rightwing groups called for mass deportations; Merseyside police arrested a man on suspicion of breach of the peace
• In Glasgow, thousands descended for a “reclaim our streets” demonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism; some counter-protesters performed what appeared to be Nazi salutes
• Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, warned the UK is heading towards “poisonous” politics of the US under current Labour leadership during a campaign speech on Saturday

London (Britain Today News) June 13, 2026 – Far-right and anti-racist protesters clashed across multiple UK cities on Saturday as police made several arrests following violent unrest that originated in Belfast and Southampton earlier this week, with rival demonstrators taking to the streets of Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Glasgow in what authorities described as a complicated operational situation requiring careful management of both protest and counter-protest groups.

What triggered the Belfast riots that spread across UK cities?

Homes and vehicles were set on fire in Belfast this week after Stephen Ogilvie, 44, lost an eye after a knife attack in the city on Monday evening, according to reports from The Independent. Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder, as reported by journalist Sarah Clarke of The Irish Times. He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, threats to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife.

“This week, five people were also jailed for violent disorder after riots broke out in Southampton in response to the death of Henry Nowak,”

the news reported. Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was arrested in error over false racism claims while dying of stab wounds inflicted by Vickrum Digwa, a British Sikh. The protests took place earlier this month, shortly after Digwa was jailed for Nowak’s murder.

Daniel Frost, 44, from Southampton, received a prison term of two years and four months, while 21-year-old Reece Robinson from Havant was sentenced to two years. Taylor Grundy, 22, hailing from Gosport, was given a two and a half year incarceration. Andrew Summerhayes, 38, from Romsey, was sentenced to three years and two months, and Dillon Crawford, 29, also from Southampton, received a three-year prison sentence.

How many arrests were made in Sheffield during the Raise the Colours protest?

On Saturday, a protest was held in Sheffield by Raise the Colours, which describes itself as a “grassroots movement for unity and patriotism” and campaigns against illegal immigration. South Yorkshire police said five people were arrested, as reported by The Guardian. Four men have been accused of public order offences, while another was arrested on suspicion of assault. A 17-year-old boy was detained after an alleged attack on an emergency worker.

Supt Charlotte Bloxham said the force’s operation was “complicated by a counter-protest group which did not adhere to conditions in place.” However, she added that officers “were able to safely manage the protest and counter-protest throughout”.

What happened during the Brighton protest between South East Patriots and Carnival Against Fascism?

In Brighton the anti-immigration group South East Patriots and counter-protesters from an event called Carnival Against Fascism took to the streets, according to The Guardian. South East Patriots said it was calling for stronger border control, enforcement of immigration laws, and the deportation of illegal immigrants.

More than 20 anti-racist groups took part in the counter-demonstration, including the DJ Fatboy Slim, as reported by Brighton and Hove News. They said they were coming together to “ensure a united resistance” and to show “the far right are not welcome in Brighton”.

Footage of minor skirmishes between the two groups circulated on social media, with tensions concentrated around Brighton railway station. The far-right demonstrators, many of whom were draped in the flag of St George and the union jack, were contained by the police on Terminus Road, which runs alongside Brighton railway station. Counter-protesters faced off with them through the gates of the station, with both groups trading insults and songs.

A Sussex police spokesperson confirmed that officers had arrested a man on suspicion of breaching the peace and assaulting a police officer. Another man was detained in relation to an alleged public order offence in a separate incident at the same protest, the force said. Fatboy Slim has been entertaining Carnival Against Fascism protesters outside Brighton Station, according to local reporting.

What occurred during the clashes in Liverpool’s Walton area?

In Liverpool, protesters clashed in the Walton area of the city, as rightwing groups led chants calling for mass deportations, according to The Guardian. Merseyside police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of breach of the peace.

According to Liverpool Echo, eight individuals were detained today, June 13, during demonstrations on County Road in Walton, Liverpool. According to Merseyside Police, these arrests were made for various offenses related to public order and anti-social behavior, and all suspects have been transported to police facilities for further inquiries. Police have confirmed the arrest of a 26-year-old man on suspicion of breaching peace, and another was taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offense under Section 60a and for cannabis possession, after allegedly refusing to remove a balaclava in an area covered by the Section 60 order.

What did Andy Burnham say about UK politics during his campaign speech?

The unrest took place as Andy Burnham said the UK was on a path towards the “poisonous” politics of the US under the current Labour leadership, as reported by Yahoo News. During a campaign speech on Saturday, the mayor of Greater Manchester said discourse was becoming more polarised and “communities don’t work together any more”.

Burnham, who hopes to return to Westminster in next week’s Makerfield byelection, asked people attending the speech:

“Does anyone here feel that we can just stay on the path that we’re on as a country?”

“It doesn’t feel doable, does it? It doesn’t feel that we’re heading in the right direction. It doesn’t feel like we’re heading to better lives for people. Things are getting harder, and politics is getting more polarised, and the path we’re on, if we are not careful, is a path towards the politics of the United States of America, a polarised, poisonous politics where people in communities don’t work together any more,”

Burnham said.

Andy Burnham has cautioned that the United Kingdom is heading towards the ‘toxic politics of the United States’ under the present Labour leadership, according to Yahoo News. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who is vying for Labour’s candidacy in the pivotal Makerfield by-election scheduled for next week, expressed that ‘communities no longer collaborate’ during a campaign address in Wigan on Saturday, June 13.

What happened during the Stand Up to Racism demonstration in Glasgow?

Also on Saturday, rival protesters clashed in Glasgow after thousands descended on the city for a “reclaim our streets” demonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism, according to The Guardian. The anti-racism protesters gathered near a significantly smaller group of counter-protesters who were fenced off from the main group by police.

Some in the counter-protest group performed what appeared to be Nazi salutes as the two groups gathered in the city centre, as reported by BBC News. Most of the counter-protesters, who were almost exclusively men, wore balaclavas or other face coverings.

The scene became tense as police tried to contain counter-protesters who had attempted to breach the barriers. Projectiles, including drink cans, were thrown towards the Stand Up to Racism group, while an egg appeared to be thrown towards the counter-protesters.

Among the masked individuals, at least one was observed making a Nazi-style salute while scuffles broke out between them and police, as activists chanted “off our streets,” according to BBC News. In Glasgow, BBC News reported witnessing a masked individual perform the Nazi salute as police attempted to create a clear path for the group. Moments later, officers apprehended another man, bringing him to the ground, handcuffing him, and escorting him away.

Some of the counter-protesters waved union flags, and others Israel flags, while the anti-racism side waved Palestinian, Ukraine and Scotland flags, as The Guardian reported.

A 53-year-old man was arrested for threatening a police officer, and another officer was struck by an egg, according to The Independent. Anti-Islam chants were heard from some counter-protesters, met with shouts of “Nazi scum off our streets” from the anti-racism rally.

Earlier this week, three individuals were arrested and charged due to disturbances in Glasgow on Tuesday, where five people, including two police officers, sustained injuries amid a march involving hundreds of masked individuals, BBC News reported. On Wednesday, a 32-year-old woman faced charges for a hate crime related to a protest outside a hotel in Greenock designated for asylum seekers. Additionally, two men were arrested near the Holiday Inn Express for anti-social behavior.
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How have police authorities responded to the widespread unrest?

Police forces across the UK have implemented significant operational measures to manage the clashes. South Yorkshire police reported five arrests in Sheffield, including four men charged with public disorder offenses and another individual detained on assault suspicion, according to The Guardian. A 17-year-old boy was also arrested following an alleged attack on an emergency responder.

Sussex Police stated in Brighton:

“Our officers are in place at a planned protest in Brighton today, keeping you safe while facilitating peaceful protest. We have already arrested a man on suspicion of a public order offence in Queen’s Road and he has been taken to custody,”

as reported by Brighton and Hove News.

In Glasgow, BBC News reported that officers apprehended a masked individual performing the Nazi salute, bringing him to the ground and handcuffing him. Earlier in the week, three individuals were arrested and charged for disturbances in Glasgow, with five people including two police officers sustaining injuries.

What do these clashes reveal about the current political situation in the UK?

The unrest took place amid Growing concerns about political polarization across the United Kingdom. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, warned during his campaign speech that the country is heading toward increasingly divided politics. He stated that

“conditions are becoming more challenging, and the political landscape is becoming increasingly divided”.

Mr. Burnham, who has indicated he intends to participate in any Labour leadership race if he returns to Parliament, highlighted the risk of ‘divided and toxic’ politics in his remarks. He continued,

“It doesn’t seem feasible, does it? It doesn’t feel like we are moving towards improved lives for individuals,”

according to Yahoo News.

The Guardian reported that the far-right marches took place across the UK on Saturday after violent unrest in Belfast and Southampton in recent days, with several people arrested on Saturday afternoon as far-right groups clashed with anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstrators.

Thousands attended anti-racism rallies following unrest in Belfast, according to Al Jazeera. Protesters held the “biggest” anti-racism rally ever seen in Belfast, demonstrating against racism and calling for calm following racist riots.

In the U.K., a violent cycle has emerged involving hateful attacks, right-wing agitation, and riots, according to The New York Times. Two stabbings have fueled violent protests in England and Northern Ireland, creating a pattern of escalating tension.

Racist riots broke out across the United Kingdom, with a video of a knife attack sparking racist riots across the Northern Irish capital Belfast on Monday, according to DW News. Violence has now spread across multiple regions.

A 30-year-old man originally from Sudan appeared in a Belfast court Wednesday charged with attempted murder over a knife attack that left a victim seriously injured and triggered anti-immigrant unrest across various regions of Northern Ireland, according to CBC News. This turmoil followed the police charging Hadi Alodid with attempted murder for his alleged knife attack on another man.

The series of clashes across Brighton, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Glasgow demonstrates the widespread nature of the unrest that has emerged following the initial violence in Belfast and Southampton, with police forces across multiple jurisdictions working to maintain order while facilitating peaceful protest rights.