UK George Floyd protests: Police and demonstrators clash outside Downing Street as thousands across UK join Black Lives Matter march
Follow developments in the protests as they happened
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Thousands of people gathered in UK cities to stand against racism and demand change after the death of George Floyd in US police custody.
Demonstrators filled London‘s Parliament Square holding placards reading “black lives matter“, “white silence is violence” and “the UK is not innocent”, while thousands also turned out across Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Leicester, Bath and Birmingham.
Government ministers urged people not to gather in large groups to protest, with police warning that protests could be unlawful under coronavirus lockdown rules. The demonstrations were largely peaceful apart from a clash between protesters and police near Downing Street on Saturday evening which saw a police officer knocked from a horse and graffiti daubed on the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
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Tom Kershaw has more details here on Anthony Joshua's appearance today in Watford, in which he urged people to protest peacefully and to "hit them where it hurts" by using boycotts and investing in black-owned businesses.
Addressing concerns raised by his reliance on crutches, a spokesperson for the heavyweight champion said that the knee brace was “precautionary” and of “no immediate concern” after a slight twinge in training.
BLM graffiti on Cenotaph
Graffiti has been daubed on buildings on Whitehall, including the Cabinet Office.
A small "BLM" motif has been painted on the Cenotaph in black paint, while cardboard placards have been propped up on the war memorial's steps.
Demonstrators stand beside graffiti on the Cenotaph war memorial on Whitehall during a Black Lives Matter protest in London (Reuters)
Police appeal for remaining protesters to go home
The Metropolitan Police has said the majority of protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration have now left central London.
The force added officers are asking the remaining crowds to return home.
Here's more on the face off between demonstrators and mounted police, in which an officer was unseated from their horse after appearing to collide with a set of traffic lights at high speed.
The horse then knocked a protester over as it bolted.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that four arrests had been made by 5pm, however our correspondent Gemma Fox had reported that officers had largely been keeping their distance from crowds earlier in the day.
The flare-up of tensions reportedly began at around 5.45pm.
Violent protesters 'let down important cause', says London mayor
Home Secretary Priti Patel said violence towards police at protests was "completely unacceptable" and gave officers her "full support in tackling disorderly behaviour".
Writing on Twitter, she said: "Protests must be peaceful and in accordance with social distancing rules. Violence towards a police officer is completely unacceptable at any time.
"The police have our full support in tackling any violence, vandalism or disorderly behaviour. There is no justification for it."
She added: "We have made specific enforcement powers available to them during the pandemic to help protect the entire public."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised those who protested peacefully but said people who became violent "let down the cause".
He said: "To the thousands of Londoners who protested peacefully today, I stand with you and I share your anger and your pain.
"George Floyd's brutal killing must be a catalyst for change worldwide."
He added: "No country, city, police service or institution can absolve itself of the responsibility to do better. We must stand together and root out racism wherever it is found. Black Lives Matter.
"To the tiny minority who were violent and threw glass bottles and lit flares - you endangered a safe and peaceful protest and let down this important cause."
Mounted police officer being treated in hospital
The Metropolitan Police have released a statement on the officer pictured on the floor after being unseated from her horse.
"The officer is currently in hospital, receiving treatment for her injuries which are not life threatening," the force said. "The officer fell from her horse, and we are examining the full circumstances of what took place. The horse, uninjured, made its own way back to the stables, nearby."
More detail on arrests at BLM protests
Four people have been arrested during the protests in London, according to the Metropolitan Police's last statement.
The force said the arrests were for assault on a police officer, criminal damage, making threats and encouraging violence - plus an incident of dangerous driving near the US Embassy in London.
All four suspects remain in custody.
That's it for our coverage of the George Floyd protests in the UK. Thanks for reading.
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