SIX police officers have been injured, including four taken to hospital, during clashes which followed a protest in London over the death of a man after a police traffic stop.

One male officer suffered facial injuries and a female officer sustained head injuries as protesters hurled objects towards riot police and set fires in Forest Gate, east London, Scotland Yard said.

22 Fires were lit in the streets of East London last night after tensions rose over the death of a man detained by police Credit: PA:Press Association

22 A woman is seen lying on the ground as chaos continues around her in East London Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Edir Frederico Da Costa, 25, died days after being arrested in London Credit: GoFundMe

22 Angry demonstrators clashed with police in East London as they protested the death of a man Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Hours later street fires had started as tensions continued to rise over the death of a man after he was stopped by police Credit: PA:Press Association

Four people were arrested for offences including disorder, arson and criminal damage in connection with the incident that began on Sunday evening.

Scotland Yard added that four people had been arrested follow the clashes, which came amid claims a young father was beaten to death by officers.

Campaigners shouted "we want justice" as they stood toe-to-toe with riot cops to allege Edir Frederico Da Costa was "brutally beaten" after the 25-year-old was stopped by police.

Tensions spiralled in a clash at Stratford bus station yesterday afternoon before street fires were started and cars set alight after crowds marched to a police station just a mile away in Forest Gate.

Videos of small fires littering the roads in East London accompanied the hashtag "Justice for Edson", following on from the earlier protests.

Who was Edir Frederico da Costa? Edir Frederico da Costa, 25, died on Wednesday 21 June. Only six days earlier he had been arrested in East London during which police used CS spray. He had been in a car with two other people in Beckton at the time. Shortly after he fell ill and was rushed to hospital following first aid. He died six days later. A post mortem has since concluded there is no evidence severe force was used on Costa. But his family say he suffered a broken neck and severe head injuries.

One demonstrator earlier rode his motorcycle riot up to a line of officers and revved his bike, sending smoke billowing into their faces.

Bins were set on fire on the Romford Road as by midnight the group of angry protesters was said to have reached 200.

A force spokesman said: "A number of objects were thrown towards officers. A small number of fires - involving the contents of litter bins - were also set in the street. These were quickly dealt with by the London Fire Brigade.

"At 10.50pm the size of the protest had significantly reduced but the protesters remained in the area.

"Shortly after 11.10pm, the main crowd dispersed into a number of smaller groups and again officers had items thrown at them.

"Six officers were injured, four of whom were taken to hospital for medical treatment. These include a male police sergeant who suffered facial injuries and a female police constable who suffered head injuries."

There were no reports of injuries among members of the public or of "significant damage" to property, and the "vast majority" of protesters had dispersed by 3am on Monday.

The force said: "Four people have been arrested. One person was arrested on suspicion of disorder offences; three others were arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage.

"They have all been taken to east London police stations where they remain in custody."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the treatment of Mr Da Costa, who died six days after he was stopped by police and detained on June 15.

22 Earlier in the day the crowd had been met with police at Stratford bus station Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Demonstrators allege that a young man of 25 was brutally beaten by police officers days before he died Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Paramedics were forced to wear protective gear as they tended to some people caught up in the protest Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Dogs were brought in to the volatile environment in East London last night Credit: PA:Press Association

22 A person holding a sign saying "police need to stop killing" up to a line of riot cops Credit: PA:Press Association

On Friday it posted a statement on Twitter, which read: "Today we have contacted Mr Da Costa's family to share with them the findings from the pathologist and we are now able to correct some misinformation that is being widely shared on social media.

"The preliminary post mortem found that Mr Da Costa did not suffer a broken neck, or any other spinal injury during his interaction with the police."

However Scotland Yard believes Mr Da Costa swallowed a "large quantity" of drugs, which could have led to his death.

Borough Commander Superintendent Ian Larnder faced the angry crowd as he answered questions about the death on Sunday afternoon.

Campaigners claim his neck was broken and he suffered head and other injuries after he was stopped in a car, with three other people, by Met officers.

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A flurry of angry comments such as "you are protecting them" and "you have told us what you can't do, now tell us what you can do" were hurled at Mr Larnder as members of the crowd pressed him about alleged police brutality.

More questions and disbelieving comments drowned him out as he told the crowd: "I am here because l care deeply about what is going on."

He also said: "Police officers are all accountable to the law, they are being investigated.

"I genuinely feel for you. I will ring the IPCC and ask them what are you doing."

When one of the campaigners asked if the officers involved in the incident were still working, he said: "I am pretty sure they have not been suspended but removed from operational duties."

22 Angry protesters confronted lines of riot police last night Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Fire engines, police vans and officers with dogs took to the streets of East London Credit: PA:Press Association

22 One person was carried away on a stretcher by police during the protests last night Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Cops clad in riot gear faced off with protesters who also wore masks as they clashed on the streets of East London Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Officers look at a fire down the streets of Forest Gate Credit: PA:Press Association

22 A protester made their way along a line of police officers in Stratford yesterday afternoon Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Tensions rose as the crowd chanted for justice and squared up to the police officers Credit: PA:Press Association

The crowd later began marching to Forest Gate police station shouting "we want justice" and "justice for Edson" to the beat of a drum.

It was reported bricks were pulled from a wall and thrown at police as the family of Mr Da Costa said the violence on London's streets was not coming from them.

Mr Da Costa had come to Britain from Portugal in 1996 and was a dad to a young boy.

His girlfriend is pregnant with his second child - a fundraising page was set up after his death to help with funeral and legal costs.

22 The crowd were met with police officers as the protested in Stratford Credit: PA:Press Association

22 A protester holding a 'black lives matter' placard speaks with police officers Credit: PA:Press Association

22 At Stratford one protester stands in front of a line of police officers Credit: PA:Press Association

22 Police kitted out in riot gear arrived to try and calm the situation down in Forest Gate Credit: PA:Press Association

22 People in masks faced off with police wearing helmets and carrying riot shields Credit: PA:Press Association

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