The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on a protest and counter-protest outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in Islington, north London, which took place on Saturday afternoon.
People believed to be migrants earlier watched the protests from the hotel’s windows, with some waving and blowing kisses as demonstrators chanted and banged drums in the street below.
A man wearing an England football shirt was detained by police after a confrontation with officers.
A group of anti-fascist protesters blocked a junction outside the hotel.
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Officers then pushed into the crowd to detain several people, dragging them out by their arms and legs.
The group was then moved from the road and officers told them they were in breach of the conditions put on the demonstration, before forming a circle around the protesters.
At about 3.30pm, police said there had been nine arrests, including seven on suspicion of breaching Public Order Act conditions.
A protest and counter-protest also took place in Newcastle outside The New Bridge Hotel, and four people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, Northumbria Police said.
Anti-immigration protesters outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel(PA)
The Metropolitan Police said the protest against the use of the Islington hotel was organised by local residents under the banner “Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no”.
A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism and supported by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as other groups including Finsbury Park Mosque and Islington Labour Party, also took place.
Police said the anti-asylum hotel protest had been “endorsed by groups from outside the local community which is likely to increase the number of people attending”.
Hotel residents watch from the windows (PA)
Online groups that voiced support for the protest include “Patriots of Britain” and “Together for the Children”.
A counter-protester outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel said he wants migrants to “feel safe” in the UK.
Student Pat Prendergast, 21, said: “I want people to feel safe. I think the (rival protesters) over there are making people feel unsafe.
“I want to stand up in solidarity and say that, you know, we want people here.
“We want migrants. We want asylum seekers.”
Police held masked protesters back in a line (PA)
A noticeably smaller group of protesters waved Union flags and held banners outside the hotel.
“Get these scum off our streets,” one man chanted in the direction of the hotel.
A large group of masked protesters dressed in black chanting “we are anti-fascist” appeared from a side street and marched towards the rival group outside the hotel.
There were brief clashes before police rushed in to separate the two groups.
The Metropolitan Police said plans were in place to “respond to any protest activity in the vicinity of other hotels in London being used to accommodate asylum seekers”.
Supporters of local protest group ‘Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no’ took part in the demo (PA)
Conditions on the anti-asylum hotel protest included that anyone participating must remain within King Charles Square and that the assembly must not begin before 1pm and must conclude by 4pm.
Police said conditions on the counter-protest included that participants must remain in Lever Street, near the junction with Central Street, and that the assembly must not begin before 12pm and must conclude by 4pm.
Protesters waved flags (PA)
There were also posts online advertising a “for our children, for our future” protest in Newcastle on Saturday outside The New Bridge Hotel.
A “stop the far right and fascists in Newcastle” counter-protest had been organised by Stand Up To Racism at the nearby Laing Art Gallery.
Pro-immigration protesters gather outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in central London (PA)
In a statement, the organisers of the counter protest said: “Yet again far-right and fascist thugs are intent on bringing their message of hate to Newcastle. They aim to build on years of Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment and scapegoating.
“In Epping and elsewhere recently we have already seen intimidation and violence aimed at refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
“Newcastle, like the rest of the North East, has a well-earned reputation for unity in the face of those who seek to divide us. Whatever problems we face, racism and division are not the answer.”
On Saturday evening, a spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “The safety of the public is our utmost priority and when we became aware of a protest planned in Newcastle today, we ensured we had an increased presence in the city to deliver a proportionate policing response.
“While the activity mainly passed without incident, disappointingly, four people were arrested in connection with public order offences.
“All four remain in police custody.
“The right to lawful protest is a key part of any democracy, which the police uphold.
“However, we will not accept people using them as a means to commit crime or disorder.”
About 100 people attended a protest outside the Stanwell Hotel in Spelthorne, Surrey, on Friday evening, during which a packet of lit firelighters was thrown at police, Surrey Police said.
A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and inquiries are ongoing to trace another suspect, the force said.
Officers also arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder and aggravated trespass following a protest at the same location on Thursday evening.
