Battle Of Trafalgar SQ

Clashes as Black Lives Matter marchers are attacked by thugs

- Amy Sharpe And Alan Selby

Huge fireworks exploded in Trafalgar Square yesterday as central London turned into a battleground.

Running fights broke out at iconic Whitehall landmarks as far-right thugs disrupted Black Lives Matter demos.

Yards from the Cenotaph, beerswilling yobs claimed they had come to “protect history” and prevent statues being damaged.

But instead pitched battles with police and chants of “En-ger-land” led to scenes more like the violence that has blighted World Cup soccer tournaments.

Thousands descended on London – where six cops were hurt and five arrests were made – and more than a dozen towns and cities across Britain.

Anti-racism protests had been officially cancelled in a bid to avoid clashes.

But trouble broke out early in Westminster, where Sir Winston Churchill’s statue had been boarded up after being defaced during BLM demos last week.

Videos showed protesters appearing to perform Nazi salutes in front of barricades that separated them from police just yards from Downing Street.