A socialist bookshop says protesters wearing masks threw books around and attempted to "intimidate staff and customers".

Bookmarks, in London's Bloomsbury, claimed about a dozen far-right demonstrators arrived just before it closed on Saturday.

Staff were called "traitors" and books "ridiculed and thrown around".

Police were called but no arrests were made.

Image: The shop said the protest was the 'true face of fascism'. Pic: Stand Up To Racism

The shop said on Facebook: "On Saturday evening around 6:45 just as we were closing, Bookmarks was attacked by around a dozen mask-wearing fascists.


"They attempted to intimidate staff and customers and to destroy books and materials. Fortunately no one was hurt.

"We will not let this happen! Never Again!"

The shop added on Twitter: "This is the true face of fascism. No Pasaran! (They shall not pass)".

Image: One protester wore a mask of the US president

Hundreds of people wrote messages of support after the bookshop urged its followers to "send solidarity".

Some of the protesters were pictured holding placards which read "British Bolshevik Cult", while one wore a Donald Trump mask.

Books on Islamophobia were "ridiculed and thrown around", a member of staff told anti-racism campaign Stand Up To Racism.

"They chanted about Muslims and paedophilia, and called us traitors," the worker added.

Image: The group stormed the bookshop on Saturday

The protesters also shouted about Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism, SUTR said, while threatening to return and "show what they can do".

In addition, they allegedly picked up a book called The Jewish Question by Abraham Leon, "holding it aloft as proof of the anti-Semitism of the left".

"Luckily no one was hurt this time, but this is a sinister development that indicates the growing confidence of the far-right who feel they can attack a bookshop in central London in broad daylight," said Michael Bradley from SUTR.

"Attacking a bookshop also exposes their claims to be defenders of free speech as hollow."

Image: The protesters allegedly shouted about Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism

Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq described the incident as "utterly despicable".

Singer Billy Bragg urged people to send Bookmarks "your solidarity".

Author Jeanette Winterson tweeted: "THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING BUT IT IS!!"