THOUSANDS of people who joined a far-right protest “went on the rampage” in London over the weekend in an attempted repeat of last summer’s violence, campaigners have said.

Around 100,000 supporters of Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephan Yaxley-Lennon, waving St George’s flags, gathered between Blackfriars and Westminster Bridges on Saturday before marching past Parliament to rally in Whitehall.

At least 24 people were arrested, and 26 police officers were injured, including four who were seriously hurt, after they broke from their designated zones, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

People were arrested for a range of offences, including affray, violent disorder, assault and criminal damage after thousands of far-right demonstrators broke away from the preplanned route, attempting to surround a Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) counter-demonstration.

Around 20,000 anti-fascists had joined the counter-protest led by the Women Against the Far Right bloc, with MPs Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott.

Extra riot police rushed through the crowd of SUTR protesters to back horses and officers in between the two protest groups.

Fascists attacked police lines with sticks and fists to try to get to anti-fascists, before throwing beer bottles at the counter-protest.

Earlier in the day, large groups of fascists had shouted “let’s get the lefties” as they left their starting point.

SUTR co-convener Weyman Bennett said that the “far-right thugs” had planned it to be “a violent riot,” saying: “They want a repeat of last summer’s violence — and more.

“Let’s stop pretending these are ‘concerned ordinary working-class people’ — they are far-right thugs who went to a demonstration organised by fascist Tommy Robinson.

“We are proud we organised a vibrant demonstration against them, but we need more opposition to the far-right threat.”

Speaking to the crowd of anti-fascists, Ms Abbott said that Mr Robinson’s allies “are some of the most anti-women forces in society.”

She said: “They are trying to drag women into their project, they are claiming that they are protecting women, but they are some of the most anti-women forces in society — they oppose equal pay, they oppose action against discrimination, they belittle sexual harassment as banter.”

The march shows “fascists cannot walk the streets of London unopposed,” she said, adding: “We know racism and violence and fascism is not new.

“But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence.”

The far-right demonstration was joined by openly fascist organisations such as Patriotic Alternative, Britain First and the small White Vanguard group, which has held events burning “Jewish” books and calls for the establishment of a “National Socialist government in Britain.”

The protest featured a guest appearance from billionaire Elon Musk, who called for an urgent change in government in Britain and told protesters to “fight back” or “die.”

Petr Bystron, who represents the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the Bundestag, told the rally: “Your enemies are our enemies, your fight is our fight.

Speeches and music continued on the stage in Whitehall past the 6pm cut-off time imposed by the police.

Counter-protest organisers said the police were unprepared for the violence and were quickly overwhelmed, despite the warnings that the fascists “were planning chaos.”

More police were deployed for the peaceful Defend Our Juries protest last weekend than for this much larger and more volatile fascist rally, SUTR noted.

The group’s other co-convener, Sabby Dhalu, said: “Events today illustrate what we’ve said all along. When fascists demonstrate, violence follows.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the violent scenes and vowed that anyone “taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.”

Sir Keir rejected today that the flag was being used as a symbol of “violence, fear and division,” and that the government “will not stand” for assaults on police officers.

The PM had previously boasted about having an England flag in his flat in the wake of the racist asylum hotels protest last month.