UK anti-racism protesters take to streets after days of far-right unrest

Thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets in several English cities on Wednesday to oppose days of far-right violence that have had U.K. police on high alert.

Nightly riots — during which mosques and migrant-related facilities have been attacked — have erupted across towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland fuelled by a wave of misinformation surrounding the murder of three children on July 29.

But on Wednesday evening, it was anti-racism and anti-fascist counter-protesters who were out in greater numbers, holding rallies in cities up and down England including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Newcastle.

"Whose streets? Our streets!" chanted protesters at a few-thousand-strong gathering in Walthamstow, northeast London, where some held banners saying "Stop the far right".

"I live in the borough and we don't want these people on our streets... they don't represent us," Sara Tresilian, 58, told AFP, referring to the far-right.

"You have to turn out (and) give that message... I think it's important that you show up for your friends and neighbours."

Andy Valentine, the Met Police's deputy assistant commissioner, thanked "communities for coming together across the capital and for showing community spirit this evening".

In Sheffield, activists chanted "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here," as riot police looked on.

In Birmingham, hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered outside a migrant support centre, while in Brighton, around 2,000 people took part in a peaceful demonstration, according to police.

There was some friction, however, as in the southern town of Aldershot, where the PA reported police had to intervene between anti-racism activists and a group...