58 people arrested during protests in London

The British National Party (BNP) are holding a protest march outside the Houses of Parliament calling for the government to act against Islamist hate preachers. Anti BNP protesters have been staging larger counter-protests.

Members of BNP and anti-fascist groups, including United Against Facism (UAF) protest group, came to blows in ugly clashes outside the Houses of Parliament today.

London Police have confirmed 58 arrests for breach of Section 14 of the Public Order Act from members of the UAF protest group after they refused to move.

The protest of what was believed to be the Unite Against Fascism (UAF) group had been due to take place Whitehall Gardens, at the junction with Whitehall.

But arrests were made after a police liaison officer tried to negotiate with the group - its members had moved to another location behind the Houses of Parliament, where the BNP were protesting.