Police made 29 arrests and an officer was left needing surgery after London’s Black Lives Matter protests on Saturday.
Thousands descended on Parliament Square and marched through Westminster over the death of African American George Floyd in US police custody last week.
Many more flooded the streets outside London’s US Embassy, in Vauxhall, on Sunday, while in Bristol cheering activists toppled the statue of a 17th century slave trader.
But skirmishes erupted on Whitehall and a horse bolted at about 6pm last night as riot police were hit with flares and missiles.
Scotland Yard said the arrests on Saturday included violent disorder, public order offences and assault on emergency service workers.
The Metropolitan Police said two of the 14 officers who were injured were seriously hurt, including a policewoman seen falling from her horse while it bolted into crowds, leaving people running for cover.
A statement said: “She was taken to hospital and underwent surgery. She remains in hospital in a stable condition; her injuries are not life-threatening. The circumstances of what happened will be examined.”
Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said her injuries were “quite nasty”, while reports said the officer suffered a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone and shattered ribs.
This afternoon the scores of protesters outside the US Embassy have marched peacefully to Westminster, but officers pleaded with people to “return home and make your voices heard in other ways” to save a repeat of clashes.
Superintendent Jo Edwards, spokeswoman for policing today’s demonstrations, added: “The violent and hostile scenes officers faced yesterday were completely unacceptable. It is shocking that a number were attacked and injured.
“Officers come to work every day to protect the public, and over the past week have worked hard to manage peaceful protest. Yesterday, they showed extreme resilience throughout a difficult day.”
In a further plea following mass breaches of lockdown rules and social distancing during the UK-wide protests, she added: “By attending a mass gathering, you risk the spread of this deadly virus and we would urge people to stay at home and make your voices heard in other ways.”
