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Hundreds of protesters have descended on Whitehall to demonstrate against Tommy Robinson’s arrest for 'breaching the peace' outside a courthouse.

Whitehall had to be closed to traffic as a huge group gathered outside Downing Street on Saturday afternoon, chanting Mr Robinson’s name.

It comes after the founder of the English Defence League was apprehended by police while streaming a Facebook live video outside a grooming trial in Leeds on Friday morning.

In the footage, he can be seen being led to the back of a van and asking “Am I being arrested? I'm 'causing a breach of peace'...I'm being arrested for breaching the peace.”

The incident has triggered a furious reaction from his fans, who could be heard chanting “shame on you” outside Whitehall.

Footage showed one man being lifted up to the top of the gates before turning to the crowd and pumping his fist.

Police officers could be seen attempting to keep the demonstration under control as violence threatened to break out at one point, with some protesters pushing officers.

Many protesters could be seen holding aloft “#FreeTommy” signs or waving flags, including the St George’s Cross, the Union Jack and the UKIP logo.

One woman held a cardboard sign which read: “Free the truth teller. Free Tommy”.

The protest later moved down the road to Parliament Square. Meanwhile, almost 70,000 people have signed a petition calling for Mr Robinson to be freed.

The Met Police said there had been no arrests.