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The Tommy Robinson protest in London has turned violent after chairs and bottles were hurled at police officers in the centre of the city.

In one sickening video, chairs and bottles are launched at officers outside an All Bar One.

Officers with batons drawn formed a line as pro-Robinson supporters ran towards them across the front of BBC headquarters.

A can of beer was thrown into the crowd still assembled outside All Souls Church and a bottle of water towards police.

At least one man is being pinned to the ground by officers.

Another video, filmed earlier in the day, Robinson supporters were seen clashing with police in ugly scenes as the Oxford Street marchers were met with counter protests from groups including Stand up to Racism.

Hundreds of Robinson supporters have been marching through the city centre carried Free Tommy posters, the opposing group walked through the streets with a 'London is anti-fascist' banner.

The march has been criticised on social media, with posters describing it as 'horrible to see' on London's streets.

Tense moments were caught on camera between protesters and police as officers attempted to keep the groups separate.

Bystanders caught up in the protests took to Twitter with scathing remarks aimed at the Robinson supporters.

One wrote: "Just walked past the free Tommy Robinson March in London and it was pretty hilarious. Basically a stag do with an England flag. Good try though, chaps."

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Another added: "Bring my Mun to London, we get to Oxford Circus and walk right into a Tommy Robinson march. The crowd numbers were pathetic but the anger and intimidation was awful, with a police presence of I’d say near 1 per protestor [sic]"

"Walking past Oxford Circus, which has been shut down by a rabble of Tommy Robinson supporters. Horrible thing to see in the heart of London," a third wrote.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was handed a nine-month sentence at the Old Bailey last month - of which he will serve just nine-and-a-half weeks - after he committed contempt of court.

Strict conditions have been imposed by police on the demonstration and a counter demonstrations planned by Stop Tommy Robinson and Stand Up To Racism, limiting the groups to specific areas and a certain time period.

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Demonstrators carried England and Union flags, umbrellas with Robinson's name on them and sang "We want Tommy out" as they congregated in a busy Oxford Circus on Saturday.

Shoppers, tourists and people out for lunch stood and watched from the pavements with some filming on their phones as the protesters chanted "Whose streets? Our streets" while moving down Regent Street.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

There were some tense exchanges with police before the march set off and a large number of officers lined the route as the singing demonstrators made their way towards All Souls Church in Langham Place, near BBC broadcasting house.

Ahead of the protests the Metropolitan Police warned that anyone breaching the conditions set for the demos could be arrested and prosecuted.

Commander Kyle Gordon, Gold Commander for the operation, said: "If you wish to protest on Saturday, I ask that you do so lawfully and within the restrictions set out above, no matter what your view. Anyone breaching these conditions will be liable to arrest and prosecution.

"I have a full policing operation in place and we will be proactive in ensuring any impact on our communities is minimised, while ensuring anyone who is intent on violence is dealt with swiftly and robustly."

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Robinson, 36-year-old, of Luton, Bedfordshire, had filmed men accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage on Facebook , in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018, resulting in his contempt of court conviction.

The judge said Robinson's conduct had amounted to a "serious contempt" and involved "reckless disobedience" of an important court order, imposed to protect a trial and a later linked trial.

Organisers from Stand Up To Racism said they planned to gather to show that "Robinson and his followers are not welcome in our streets", accusing him of seeking to "divide and rule our multicultural society".