Thousands of protesters have blocked off Liverpool city centre as a tense standoff escalates.
GB News' video journalist Dougie Beattie slammed police for a “very bad decision” that left officers caught between opposing crowds.
Clashes broke out as some protesters attacked others with cans and sticks.
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Dougie Beattie reported live from the tense protests
|GB NEWS
The police have made multiple arrests and deployed horses to try to control the chaos.
Dougie described the situation as, “very, very tense” with flashpoints still developing across the city.
He said: "The police have got themselves in a real muddle because they allowed Stop Racism, some of the younger people in it, to come in from the left-hand side with cans and sticks and start hitting hard on the anti-immigration protesters.
"Now the police are caught between two lines. They allowed the Stand Up to Racism group to come around the back of them, and they’re now trying to cut a way through the street to separate the two protests.
"This is a very bad police decision because it has ended up blocking the middle of Liverpool entirely.
"It’s a very tense situation. You can see police pushing down the street, trying to move protesters.
"Clashes are breaking out, there have been around five arrests so far today, and the police are really being pushed to control the situation."
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He added: "One man is even standing with a flag, trying to wind others up.
"The whole length of the street has seen scuffles.
"Liverpool is on edge, and it’s shocking that police allowed attacks to come in from the left-hand side."
Police were granted additional powers to disrupt suspected criminality ahead of the protest.
Dougie Beattie said the police made a "very bad decision"
|GB NEWS
Merseyside Police confirmed a section 34 dispersal order and a section 60 order have been introduced today to help the force prevent possible criminality and disorder.
Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: “These orders are not intended to disrupt anyone going about their lawful business today in the city centre, but instead will be used to help keep everyone safe.
“These orders are to ensure the people who live, visit or work in our city centre can do so free from crime and anti-social behaviour, and I would ask people to continue reporting any concerns and we will take action.
“The aim, as ever, is to keep the public safe. I hope that the presence of our officers in the city centre is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.
“If you witness any criminal behaviour, or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will take action.”
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