Thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday as part of a protest organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, as well as a counter-protest.

The Metropolitan police said in advance that about 1,000 officers were being deployed across the capital to “keep the peace” and ensure the two groups were kept apart.

It said eight people had been arrested and several emergency workers were assaulted, though none were seriously injured.

The crowd for Robinson’s protest gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice before marching down the Strand to Trafalgar Square, where a rally was held.

Participants were heard chanting “Rule, Britannia!”, “England till I die”, and “We want our country back”. The Met also said it was investigating a number of videos shared online in which “racist and anti-Muslim” chants could be heard.

Speakers at the rally denounced immigration and multiculturalism as well as the Covid vaccines, while people in the crowd waved British, English and Israeli flags and placards that read: “Not far right, just right.”

The counter-protest, organised by Stand Up to Racism and Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice project, began at Russell Square and marched to Whitehall.

Marchers carried banners reading “We are all migrants” and “Stop Islamophobia” as well as placards calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

Chants of “Tommy Robinson we know you, you’re a Nazi through and through” and “Nazi scum, off our streets” were also heard.

Speakers at the rally included Corbyn and Eddie Dempsey, assistant general secretary of the RMT union.

Police said two men were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after an assault on a counter-protester, while another man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked.

Another four people were arrested outside a pub in Whitehall on suspicion of assault on emergency workers after four police officers were assaulted.

One man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping the pole of a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive remark.

The day also saw a Trans Pride march from Langham Place, near Oxford Circus, to Hyde Park Corner. Police said a ninth person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at that event.