
Hundreds of far-right protestors led by former EDL leader Tommy Robinson clashed with police while taking part in what was intended to be a 'silent' rally.

But the rally quickly turned violent, and the far-right protestors scuffled with police and left-wing activists - and even brandished a pig's head and took turns taking bites out of it.

The group, called UK Against Hate, carried out the demonstration in response to the terrorist attack in Manchester last month.

Salman Abedi, 22, detonated an improvised explosive device after an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena and killed 22 people - including children.

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Some members of the group ended up tussling with the police when the silent protest became heated in central Manchester

One of the protesters even brandished a pig's head - a vile taunt towards Muslims, who are forbidden from eating pork - as other protesters looked on

Hundreds of far-right protesters (pictured) arrived in Manchester at 2pm on Sunday afternoon following the attack in the city

Marchers clashed with officers and were met by a counter protest being carried out by anti-fascist groups

One demonstrator (pictured), who was wounded in clashes, was led away to a police van shortly after a scuffle

Protesters try to tear down the barriers put up by police in Manchester to separate them from anti-fascist groups, who also attended the march

Two men squared up to each other during the protest on the streets of Manchester - just weeks after the Manchester terror attack which killed 22 people - many of whom were children

In a sickening racist display against Muslims, another protester bit right into the pig's head, while others filmed the scene

Some of the group were drinking lager as they marched through central Manchester at 2pm on Sunday. Police advised the public to stay clear of the area

The demonstration was ostensibly supposed to be a response to the Manchester terrorist attack

Protesters clashed during the 'silent' protest which was organised by former EDL leader Tommy Robinson who advertised the event online

The march soon turned sour when some of the group started tussling with police

Many of the marchers - who were mostly young men - were drinking heavily throughout the protest

And on Sunday, the protestors, said their march from Piccadilly Train Station to a rally in Piccadilly Gardens in the city was their response to the attack.

But the silent march turned 'nasty' when a number of the group tussled with police who had attended the march to make sure it was 'peaceful'.

Some of the group - which is made up of mostly young men - carried giant England flags during the protest.

The protestors was later opposed by a counter demonstration which involved a collection of anti-fascist groups.

It is not clear whether any of those in the city were injured or if anyone was arrested by Greater Manchester Police.

The silent protest was carried out on the anniversary of the gun massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead. It became the deadliest terrorist attack in the US since 9/11.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman tweeted: 'Please avoid Piccadilly Gardens area, as a protest has turned nasty. Some disruption to public transport too.'

Earlier in the day, they said: 'There is an increased police presence in the city centre to ensure that a planned demonstration passes peacefully with minimal disruption.

'There is a demonstration taking place in Piccadilly Gardens this afternoon, please avoid the area if possible until protestors have finished.'

Hundreds of people turned up for the rally in Manchester this afternoon - just weeks after the Manchester terror attack

Police came prepared for trouble, although it is not clear if anyone was injured or arrested

Members of the group were seen shouting and singing during their silent protest which was organised by Tommy Robinson

Groups clashed on the streets of Manchester this afternoon after UK Against Hate met anti-fascist groups near Piccadilly Train Station

Greater Manchester Police officers attended the march on Sunday and it is unclear whether they made any arrests

Police guided the 'silent protesters' on from Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester

A protester confronts police in central Manchester. There were some scuffles reported between the groups

The march occurred on the anniversary of the Orlando Pulse massacre, where 49 people were killed

The organisers of the march said that it had been left to them to stand up for the 'ordinary people of the United Kingdom'

Other protestors voiced their views and held up signs and banners saying 'we won't stand for this' and 'we've been DUPed'

The march was met by a counter-protest by members of Unite Against Fascism

Mr Robinson, 34, from Luton, Bedfordshire, organised the march. A message on the group's website told protestors to meet at 2pm.

It read: 'It has now been left to us, the ordinary people of the United Kingdom to stand up to hate, to unite and in one voice say 'no more'.

'That's why on Sunday the 11th of June, we will stand together in Manchester in opposition to hate.

'We will say 'no more', we will walk in silence through the city to honour the dead, we will rally to demand action, we will make ourselves impossible to ignore.'

Some of the demonstrators who stayed on in Piccadilly Gardens

The protest turned violent when rival groups bumped into each other during the day, which was billed as being a 'silent' march

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said that the protest had 'turned nasty' and advised the public to avoid the area

The protestors was later opposed by a counter demonstration which involved a collection of anti-fascist groups (pictured)

Police stepped in between the two groups and were in Manchester to try and make sure that the planned protest was carried out 'peacefully'

Many of the group gathered outside the Piccadilly Tavern in Manchester and some people brought a giant England flag with them