EDL supporters march through central London

EDL and anti-fascist protestors threw glass bottles and exchanged angry chants and insults outside Downing Street today as riot police with dogs moved in to keep the protestors apart.

More than 500 English Defence League protestors marched on Whitehall, chanting “Muslim killers off our streets” and “There’s only one Lee Rigby” in tribute to the soldier killed in Woolwich, south east London, last Wednesday.

Earlier, police were forced to move against an aggressive band of anti-fascist protestors who pushed through a cordon as they tried to reach EDL organisers on the scene.

Lines of riot police moved in and held back the crowds as they chanted “Rascist scum, off our streets” at the EDL leader who had arrived early to set up a stage for the rally. They held placards that read “Blood on your hands” and “GB RIP”.

Channel 4 News Correspondent Siobhan Kennedy, reporting on the march, said the anti-fascist protestors had to be forcibly held back.

“It got quite nasty – the police riot squad moved in and cordoned them off and gradually pushed them back into a corner,” she said.

Later, addressing the crowd, “Tommy Robinson”, the EDL’s main leader told crowds that there would be marches in every city in the country on Saturday, in tribute to Lee Rigby.

The demonstration follows a gathering of around 100 EDL supporters in Woolwich last Wednesday, hours after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

EDL leader says there will be marches in every city in the country on Saturday in memory of drummer lee Rigby

— siobhan kennedy (@siobhankennedy4) May 27, 2013

EDL leader Kevin saying David Cameron needs to tackle the problem. Instead he is topping up his tan, he says

— siobhan kennedy (@siobhankennedy4) May 27, 2013

Police helmets on as glass bottles start to fly twitter.com/siobhankennedyâ?¦

— siobhan kennedy (@siobhankennedy4) May 27, 2013