Three police officers have been injured during riots in Plymouth and a police van has been damaged. 

Devon and Cornwall Police said “arrests are ongoing” and “work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation” after officers were injured during clashes on Monday night.

The force has deployed 150 officers in the city centre where two protest groups have formed.

Officers detained a man on the floor, as protesters launched missiles and fireworks at a counter-demonstration where people held signs stating “No Place for Hate” and “Say No to Nazis”.

Speaking at the scene, bronze commander Inspector Ryan North Moore told Sky News: “This is not a protest anymore. In my opinion, this is violence. This is sustained violence.

“Unfortunately, large masonry was thrown at us, whether it was aimed at us or others or opposing groups - we don’t know yet. The investigation will identify that. But, yes, three officers down.”

Asked how difficult it was to police the protest, Inspector Moore said: “It’s off the scale today. With the resources we’ve got, it’s difficult.”

In a post on social media, Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We currently have 150 officers deployed in Plymouth City Centre. Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated. Work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation.”

The violent scenes come on the seventh day of disorder in the wake of a knife attack in Southport last week which left three girls dead.

Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard said protesters who have “thrown projectiles at people” are “not what Plymouth is about”.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: “There is absolutely no place for violence on our streets. There’s no place for hate on our streets.

“Plymouth is a brilliant place to live, work and play. The diversity of our city makes us stronger – doesn’t make us weaker.

“And we know that those people who have come to our city tonight, who have brought violence onto our streets, who have thrown projectiles at people, who have abused people because of their background or their skin colour or their faith, they have no place in our city.

“That’s not what Plymouth is about – that’s not who we are. Thank you to the police for keeping us safe, to services from the city council to local businesses who have all taken steps to reassure people, to keep people safe.

“We have still got a long way to go tonight, but there is no place for hate in Plymouth, no place for violence on our streets.”