Man, 76, is arrested for 'concealing his identity' amid angry clashes at anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth after police warned against face coverings

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Police have arrested three men, including a 76-year-old for 'concealing his identity', after the gathering of hundreds of anti-migrant protestors in Portsmouth on Saturday ended in violence. After a march through the city, skirmishes took place as around 400 protesters and activists from a rival demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism left Guildhall Square. Though originally claimed to be a peaceful protest, anti-migrant protesters were filmed shouting 'scum' before scuffles broke out as officers sought to prevent them breaking through police lines. The demonstration followed protests by Right-wing groups last weekend, which saw roughly 2,000 men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas block access to the port of Dover. The organiser of that protest, Danny Thomas, took to social media on Friday to admit that he would not attend today's event. Yet he said 'as many people as possible' should still turn out in the coastal town. Hampshire Police had warned those attending today of powers in place that make it illegal to wear a face covering to conceal identity while attending protest activity. It means officers can arrest anyone in a designated area for hiding their face during the demonstration using powers under the Crime and Policing Act. After violence broke out between anti-migrant protesters - some of whom were wearing face coverings - and police, officers were seen detaining several people. Anti-migrant protesters are seen clashing with police during a demonstration in Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon Violent scuffles broke out between anti-migrant protesters and police, with multiple arrests made Anti-immigration demonstrators confront police during a protest in the city of Portsmouth on Saturday Anti-immigration demonstrators confront police after dispersing from Guildhall Square An anti-migrant protester is held back by a fellow activist as he confronts police officers separating them from rival demonstrators Protesters shout and gesture as they are faced with a line of police officers on Saturday afternoon Anti-migrant protesters face off with officers in Portsmouth this afternoon An anti-migrant protester is seen being detained by police officers in Portsmouth on Saturday An anti-migrant protester is detained by two police officers after angry clashes broke out in the city on Saturday A police officer grapples with a right-wing social media activist who goes by the name of Young Bob A man is wrestled to the ground by police officers before being arrested Social media activist 'Young Bob' and anti-migrant protesters clashed with police and counter-demonstrators on Saturday after hundreds gathered in Portsmouth, after they were warned Hampshire Police vowed to make more arrests if necessary Scuffles broke out with police, who tried to keep both sides separated as many made their way back towards Portsmouth train station Men attending the anti-immigration protest in Portsmouth stand in front of a line of police officers separating them from a counter-demonstration in Guildhall Square on Saturday A man wears a niqab-style face covering while participating in anti-migrant protests on Saturday - police warned anyone using coverings to hide their identity could be arrested Police were seen speaking with the man and asking him why he was wearing the face covering Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters had gathered in Portsmouth by mid-afternoon Anti-migrant protesters are marching in Portsmouth today, as police warned attendees not to cover their faces and vowed to make more arrests Police speak to the co-ordinator of the South Coast Patriots march before it set off in Portsmouth An anti-migrant protester wears a black face covering, despite police warnings this could lead to arrest At least three people have been arrested: a 33-year-old man from Portsmouth on suspicion of obstructing a highway, and a 16-year-old male from Portsmouth on suspicion of violent disorder, in relation to violent public disorder at Eastney Marina on Sunday, September 6. A 76-year-old man from Southampton was also arrested on suspicion of wearing/using an item to conceal identity at a protest. The man, wearing what appeared to be black scarves tied across his face and head, was seen in handcuffs on Saturday afternoon. A police officer at the scene also said one man who was arrested had been detained on suspicion of criminal damage. Protesters initially gathered in the city centre at All Saints Church in Commercial Road at 12.30pm, with protestors carrying placards with the victims of the Southport stabbings and singing football chants, before the group moved to Guildhall Square. But chants quickly included: 'deport, deport, deport the f****** lot' and 'whose streets, our streets'. A man with a megaphone addressing the anti-migration protest began chants including 'stop the boats'. He said the protest was against 'illegal men invading the shores' and said it was not about having an attitude of 'f*** the police'. Hundreds also gathered in a counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism - the two sides were kept apart in Guildhall Square by police officers. Several hundred protesters gathered at All Saints Church in Portsmouth before heading on a march through the city Hundreds of demonstrators and counter-protesters turned out on Saturday Protesters from South Coast Patriots take part in a march against immigration, in Portsmouth An anti-migrant protester climbs on top of a statue outside Portsmouth's Guildhall on Saturday The counter protestors began chants including: 'Portsmouth is antifascist', 'Stop the hate', and 'say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here'. Protests and counter-protests are also taking place in other UK cities including Newcastle and Glasgow. Earlier on Saturday, Hampshire Police said: 'We will support those who want to express their views peacefully and lawfully, but we will not tolerate those whose only aim is to create fear and incite violence.' The anti-migrant protestors had to follow a designated route, and organisers Portsmouth Patriots and other aligned groups were allocated a specific location to gather near All Saints Church. Failure to comply with conditions could lead to arrest, the force said. A counter demonstration planned by Stand Up To Racism gathered in a neighbouring car park adjacent to the protest, holding signs including 'RNLI are heroes, no-one is illegal'. But as the counter protestors left the Guildhall, they were followed by anti-immigration protestors who attempted to block their exits. Scuffles then broke out between the two groups, with police trying to break up the fights and keep the factions separate. Many of the protestors then allegedly covered their faces, in violation of the police order. Men stand and sit on top of statues outside Portsmouth's Guildhall A man in a top hat drinks beer as he participates in an anti-migrant protest The man in a top hat was also seen walking through the square waving a giant England flag Police officers form a line as protesters gathered today ahead of their march through Portsmouth Demonstrators participating in the anti-migrant march held flags and banners After the violence broke out, one man with his face covered said: 'This is our home and we're taking it back. 'You've come in illegally and they've welcomed you. The police are tyrants, all of them.' Counter-protester Maz, who works for the local authority in Portsmouth and volunteers with Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth and Women Against The Far Right, said: 'We're the community of Portsmouth standing up against racism and fascism. 'The Blackshirts there are a clear display of fascism and it's not welcome in our city. 'We won't stand up for it. There are 400 of us here today to show it has no place here.' The event was also attended by Nick Tenconi, the leader of UKIP, who told the crowd: 'You have this situation in every single constituency. You have all these people destroying our liberty and peace. 'We have law enforcement saying they don't know what to do but look at all these people here. We have strength in numbers. 'It's about taking the country back. These people are everywhere - they live next to you, they live next to me. People take part in an anti-far right demonstration in the city of Portsmouth on Saturday Anti-migrant protesters in Portsmouth on Saturday. The demonstration follows several protests by Right-wing groups since last weekend, after several hundred men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas blocked access to the port of Dover A woman is pictured during the anti-migrant march in Portsmouth with an England flag tied around her head The protesters in Portsmouth marched from All Saints Church in Commercial Road at 12.30pm to Guildhall Square Several people are seen wearing shirts reading Portsmouth Patriots as they gathered ahead of today's march Attendees at today's protest in Hampshire who have been warned not to wear face masks 'Are we going to let them win? Are we going to fight back? Are we going to send them home?' Despite the arrests, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary Donna Jones said: 'I'm pleased that today's protests in Portsmouth took place without major issue. 'Thankfully we didn't see repeated scenes of Sunday night with assaults on police officers and criminal damage to police vehicles and people's property. 'Hundreds of people took part in today's protest, and with the exception of a few people, it was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the new law calling for their faces to be uncovered. 'The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear and disruption. 'While some may think it was arbitrary to use the new power directing people to remove face-coverings, the police ensured it was implemented equally and impartially for everyone involved. 'I will ensure this power is used proportionately in the future for both sides of the spectrum of protestors. 'Hundreds of officers were needed to ensure today's event passed peacefully. A counter demonstration planned by Stand Up To Racism has gathered in a specified area adjacent to the protest People take part in an anti-far right demonstration in the city of Portsmouth on Saturday Counter-protesters demonstrated in Guildhall Square in Portsmouth on Saturday People taking part in an anti-immigration demonstration and march stand opposite counter-demonstrators People take part in an anti-migrant protest in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday The Glasgow protest was organised by group the Pink Ladies Counter-protesters also gathered in Glasgow on Saturday afternoon At least 200 anti-migrant activists amassed at the Eastney Marina on Sunday night in a bid to prevent coachloads of some 120 migrants leaving the area 'I want to thank Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for their hard work and professionalism in ensuring the city of Portsmouth and local people remained a safe place to be, especially on a weekend.' Earlier in the afternoon, the majority of protesters did not wear face coverings, although one man on the anti-migrant side - who appeared to be wearing a covering in the style of an Islamic niqab - was filmed being spoken to by police. Asked why he was wearing the face covering, he claimed: 'I am converting'. A man on a mobility scooter wearing a plastic face mask was also stopped by police at the Guildhall Square. He was spoken to by officers about the policing powers in place and then removed the mask and continued on his way. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met police on Thursday for reassurance they are ready to move quickly in dealing with 'far-right groups' seeking to intimidate communities after the events in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend. Overnight last Sunday, several hundred people gathered at Eastney Marina after a dinghy's arrival across the English Channel in a bid to prevent the 120 migrants leaving the area on coaches. Official vehicles were damaged and a small number of police officers were injured, Hampshire Police said. About 200 people were dispersed early on Monday. In Dover, crowds of masked men blocked road access to the port last Saturday, in scenes which were condemned by politicians of all parties. Yesterday, the force announced that a man has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty in relation to Sunday's protest in Portsmouth. They said the arrest of Del Leon Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, was the first of what they anticipated to be 'a number of' detentions regarding the 'violent public disorder' and hit back at claims online that the event was a peaceful protest. Somerville appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, sitting at the crown court, this morning. He did not enter any pleas at the short hearing to charges of violent disorder between September 5 and 8 in Portsmouth, and assaulting a constable on September 11 in Waterlooville. Prosecutor Lucy Paddick told the court he was accused of throwing a bottle towards a police line and was allegedly heard telling officers to 'f*** off' as the bottle was thrown. Somerville is also alleged to have kicked out at PC Peskett, making contact with the officer's right thigh, when he was arrested, the court heard. He was remanded into custody at the hearing, supported by members of his family in the courtroom, ahead of his next appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court on September 16. Ms Mahmood said: 'These scenes have caused disruption for people and, given that people are dressed in black wearing balaclavas, there is a fear factor and obvious malign intent being communicated to our residents. 'This makes it different from other protests, so we need to make sure we are learning lessons.'