“We are aware of social media videos circulating online from yesterday’s protests”
14:38, 22 Feb 2026Updated 14:47, 22 Feb 2026
A screenshot from a video circulated online which appeared to show a male being attacked
Police are investigating after a video circulated online showing a male being attacked during violence at the Britain First march on Saturday afternoon (February 22).
Far-right group Britain First protesters gathered in Piccadilly from around noon yesterday, February 21, to take park in a march for ‘remigration and mass deportations’.
Meanwhile several counter-protests, including Resist Britain First – a coalition of Greater Manchester campaign groups – and Stand Up To Racism Manchester, also took place in the city centre. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also addressed the group earlier on Saturday.
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In video and pictures from Piccadilly Gardens, protesters could be seen fighting with police and with counter-protestors. One video, seen by the Manchester Evening News, it appears to show a male being attacked by a group of males on Bloom Street, close to the city’s Gay Village.
The video then appears to show police officers moving over to the male and placing him in handcuffs. A spokesperson for GMP has said the video is being investigated.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: “We are aware of social media videos circulating online from yesterday’s protests and will be investigating a number of incidents. During what was a very busy day in Manchester city centre, officers responded to several incidents and intervened in altercations between groups. On some occasions this spilled over into acts of violence and disorder, and these will be fully investigated.
The video has been circulating on social media
“We will utilise a range of criminal and civil powers to bring offenders to justice, ensuring that those who wish to protest peacefully can do so.
“We would also encourage anyone with mobile phone or CCTV footage from the protests to report it to us as it could assist our enquiries.
“Our priority is always to protect public safety while supporting people’s right to protest peacefully.”
Last night, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the force had made 11 arrests in connection with the demonstrations.
Two men were held on suspicion of prevention of a breach of the peace, two men were held on suspicion of assaulting emergency workers, four men were held on suspicion of public order offences, one man was held on suspicion of assault, one man was held on suspicion of an offence relating to the Crime and Disorder Act, and another man was held on suspicion of breaching a dispersal notice.
One of the four men arrested on suspicion of a public order offence was subsequently de-arrested, and issued a summons. The man held on suspicion of an offence relating to the Crime and Disorder Act was later de-arrested and handed a dispersal notice.
With the two de-arrests, nine men remain in custody.