Violence has broken out at a St George’s Day event in central London.
The Metropolitan Police released footage showing a group of men – some draped in St George’s flags – clashing with officers in Whitehall.
At one point in the footage, a man appears to hit a police horse with an umbrella.
The Met had earlier warned that those attending the event were expected to include “far right groups and groups linked to football clubs travelling from elsewhere in the UK”.
Shortly after 2pm, the force posted on X: “The event is not due to start for an hour and regrettably officers are already dealing with disorder.”
The event was due to start at 3pm and finish two hours later on a pre-agreed route.
The post continued: “There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace. This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.
“When officers formed a cordon and asked the group to turn round, they reacted by violently forcing their way through. Mounted officers intervened with horses to restore the cordon.”
The crowd is understood to have now dispersed and the disorder has stopped.
Whitehall has now reopened to traffic in both directions and there have been “no further incidents since that altercation”, the force said.
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The Met earlier said an order was in force in Lambeth and Westminster giving officers the power to require the removal of face coverings after it said several people were seen to be wearing masks.
It added a Section 60 order was issued allowing police to ramp up stop and searches.
St George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April every year, honouring the patron saint of England.
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