Police scuffle with anti-lockdown and anti-vaxxer protestors and make dozens of arrests - including Piers Corbyn - after thousands march through Bristol and Liverpool
Police scuffled with anti-lockdown and anti-vaxxer protestors and made dozens of arrests after thousands marched through Bristol and Liverpool city centres today despite warnings they could face fines for breaking coronavirus restrictions.
The group Stand Up Bristol gathered with signs in the city this morning, with at least 14 maskless protestors - being arrested by police as tensions bubbled over.
Avon and Somerset police also said that as well as several people being arrested for failing to comply with the directions of officers, one arrest was also made after an officer was assaulted.
Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers was seen being spoken to by a police officer during the Bristol protests. The 73-year-old, from Southwark, south London, is a well known climate change denier and also claims the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax.
In Liverpool 16 people have so far been arrested after hundreds gathered outside St George's Hall and Merseyside police have issued a dispersal zone in the city centre and the south of Liverpool.
People gather outside St George's Hall in Liverpool during an anti-lockdown rally protest against government restrictions during the second lockdown
Hundreds of maskless protestors were seen with signs protesting lockdown in Liverpool today. So far 16 people there have been arrested there
Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters are marching through Bristol city centre today despite warnings they could face fines for breaking coronavirus restrictions
Piers Corbyn is seen being detained by a police officer in the centre of Bristol as several hundred protesters take to the streets of the west country city to demonstrate against government lockdown measures
The group Stand Up Bristol - which has 2,800 Facebook members - gathered with signs in the city this morning, with many maskless protestors pictured being arrested by police
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Avon and Somerset police also said that as well as several people being arrested for failing to comply with the directions of officers, one arrest was also been made after an officer was assaulted
The group had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines and possible arrest for being involved in the gathering on the city's College Green
Anti lockdown protestors march through Bristol city centre today. It comes despite Priti Patel banning demonstrations duration of the second lockdown
A man is arrested during the anti-lockdown protest in Bristol today. The rainy weather did not deter the demonstrators who turned out in their hundreds
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been recurring protests across England against lockdown restrictions and other rules meant to curb the spread of the virus
Police had warned protesters to cancel the march or face possible fines. Pictured: One man is hauled away by police today
There was a heavy police presence in the city centre today and one police officer was assaulted as tensions bubbled over
The Stand Up Bristol group had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines and possible arrest for being involved in the gathering on the city's College Green.
It comes despite Priti Patel banning demonstrations duration of the second lockdown which will run until December 2, in line with rules that you can only meet one other person outdoors in a public setting.
Anyone caught participating in a gathering of more than 30 people can be fined £200.
Avon and Somerset police had pleaded with the group earlier this week to cancel the planned march.
The force has asserted it will 'not stand by' this Saturday and Chief Inspector Mark Runacres stressed the health risks, saying he was 'disappointed' the protest was still set to go ahead.
One homemade banner read: 'Fear is the currency of control', while another said 'stand up, take your freedom back'.
Despite pleas from police in advance, hundreds of people also made their way in to Liverpool for the protest today.
Police said: 'We continue to thank the vast majority of people who are abiding by lockdown rules and continuing to stay at home to keep us all safe.
'Unfortunately a small number of selfish and irresponsible individuals have chosen to gather in the city centre today, putting their families, the public and our staff at risk from this global pandemic. We have so far, made 16 arrests for public order and breach of coronavirus regulations.'
Protesters hold placards during the anti-lockdown protest being held today in Bristol, England. This woman made a sign saying: 'Freedom over fear!'
One group held a huge grey and orange banner that read 'End lockdown - hide if you must. I do not live through your fear'
A child is interviewed with her dad during the anti-lockdown protest in Bristol today. She had made a sign that read: 'I want to hug my nanny!'
Avon and Somerset police had pleaded with the group earlier this week to cancel the planned march but they went ahead with their plans today
Avon and Somerset Police said today: Today they said: 'Around 200 protestors are now marching through Bristol city centre. This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk
In Bristol Mr Corbyn appeared to have been detained after speaking at the protest where he was urging marchers they will have 'Christmas on our terms'.
Video shows him being led away by a group of police officers as a man with a mega phone screams 'let him go' and the crowd chants 'shame on you'.
It comes as authorities warned Bristol is at a 'very critical point' as infections continue to rise in the city and surrounding suburbs.
Supporters of the group gathered at midday on College Green before marching through the city, ignoring pleas from the police
The protesters march down from College Green in Bristol today to head towards the city centre. None of them appeared to be wearing masks
It comes after there were wide spread anti-lockdown protests across the UK last weekend, with huge groups descending on Brighton and Liverpool city centres. Pictured is Bristol today
A man protesting in Bristol today is interviewed by journalists. Tensions boiled over and several were arrested by the police
Protesters hold placards during the anti-lockdown protest today. One woman's sign read: 'Fear is the currency of control'
One woman put on a very animated display as she was escorted away by police in Bristol after she took part in the demonstration
Meeting people outside of your household in groups of more than two people is currently banned under the second national lockdown, and anyone caught participating in a gathering of more than 30 people can be fined £200
Police are pictured arresting a woman in Bristol this morning, as the force struggled to keep control of the hundreds of demonstrators
The force has asserted it will 'not stand by' this Saturday and Chief Inspector Mark Runacres stressed the health risks, saying he was 'disappointed' the protest was still set to go ahead
Today the force tweeted: 'We continue to urge people protesting in Bristol city centre to go home'. However the groups kept gathering
On Twitter Avon and Somerset Police took to Twitter today and said that the group was made up of around 200 demonstrators
The police presence is increasing at the anti-lockdown protest in Bristol and the force has urged people to go home immediately
Tensions bubbled over in the city centre today as around 200 people were out on the streets protesting the lockdown rules in place in England
Police officers at the scene in Bristol city centre today were all wearing face masks but most of the protestors were maskless
Today in Germany there were also protests and police even fired water cannons at demonstrators in the city of Frankfurt
Police officers use a water cannon against left-wing demonstrators standing on a road to stop the protest against the government's restrictions, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Frankfurt, Germany today
Riot police officers arrest a left-wing protester at a demonstration against the coronavirus restrictions in Frankfurt today
Police officers carry an old man who tried to block the demonstration of the Querdenken movement against coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Frankfurt today
Left-wing protesters who are demonstrating against the coronavirus restrictions struggle with police officers in Frankfurt
The protests organized by the Third Position movement 'Querdenken' were held against government-imposed semi-lockdown measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic
All restaurants, bars, cultural venues, fitness studious, cinemas and sports halls were forced to close for four weeks as part of lockdown measure sto try and control coronavirus infection rates in Germany. Pictured: police use water cannons in Frankfurt
Left-wing demonstrators clash with police officers as they try to stop a protest against the government's restrictions in Frankfurt today
Today Avon and Somerset police said: 'Around 200 protestors are now marching through Bristol city centre. This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk.
'Arrests have been made as people have failed to comply with the directions of officers. One arrest has also been made after an officer was assaulted.'
Today in Germany there were also protests and police even fired water cannons at demonstrators in the city of Frankfurt.
It comes after there were wide spread anti-lockdown protests across the UK last weekend, with huge groups descending on Brighton and Liverpool city centres.
Some European cities such as Leipzig in Germany also had trouble with protests.