Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday as part of protests and counter-protests organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The Metropolitan police had previously announced that around 1,000 officers would be deployed across the capital to maintain order and keep the two groups separate.
Eight people were arrested and several emergency workers were assaulted but no one was seriously injured, police said.
Crowds joining Robinson’s protest gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice and then marched down the Strand to Trafalgar Square, where a rally was held.
Protesters chanted “Rules for Britannia!”, “England to death” and “We want our country back”. The Metropolitan police also said they were investigating a number of videos shared online that could be heard containing “racist and anti-Muslim” chants.
Speakers at the rally denounced immigration, multiculturalism and the COVID-19 vaccine, while the crowd waved British, English and Israeli flags and signs that read “Not far right, just right.”
A counter-demonstration, organised by Stand Up to Racism and the Jeremy Corbyn Peace and Justice Project, began in Russell Square and marched to Whitehall.
Protesters held banners reading “We are all immigrants” and “Stop Islamophobia” as well as signs calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
Shouts of “Tommy Robinson, we know you’re a Nazi through and through” and “Get you Nazi scum out of town” could also be heard.
Speakers at the rally included Mr Corbyn and Eddie Dempsey, deputy general secretary of the RMT trade union.
Police said two men were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after assaulting a counter-demonstrator, and another man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially abusive breach of the peace after a police officer was kicked.
Four more people have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker outside a pub in Whitehall after four police officers were assaulted.
One man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage to property and racist public order offences after breaking a Palestinian flag pole and making racist remarks.
A trans pride march also took place on the same day, from Langham Place near Oxford Circus to Hyde Park Corner. Police said a ninth person had been arrested at the event for allegedly assaulting an attendant.
