Machibet BetBlack Lives Matter supporter carries injured statue row protester to safety after he was beaten up in clashes | The Sun - Machibet Login

A BLACK Lives Matter supporter carried an injured rival protester to safety after he was beaten up in clashes today.

The white man, part of the pro-statue supporters, was seen lying on the ground with blood on his face.

The Black Lives Matter supporter carried the injured man from an opposing group to safetyCredit: Reuters

The man, thought to be part of the group protesting over statue damage, was hurtCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Other BLM protesters appeared to be making a path to get the injured man throughCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But after being hurt outside Waterloo Station, a black man - thought to be part of the opposing group - picked him up and took him safely to a line of cops trying to control the tensions.

The Black Lives Matter activist, wearing gloves and a facemask, carefully carried the man in shorts and a t-shirt as he shielded his face and other protesters moved aside.

A number of people, also believed to be part of the counter movement, appeared to be protecting the injured man's head, and making a path for the pair through the crowd.

He had been seen knocked to the floor from the clash with the counter group after cops spent all day trying to keep the rival protesters apart.

The man who carried the other to safety was hailed online - with one person saying the image was "so powerful and hopeful", and another writing it was the "image of the day".

It came after crowds of pro-statue campaigners earlier hurled bottles at police and were filmed attacking them.

Later in the day, as they moved towards Waterloo Station as the 5pm curfew approached the group clashed with a crowd of BLM supporters.

As the protests continued past the 5pm curfew, cops were seen standing guard outside the station in full riot gear - as flares and smoke bombs were thrown between groups and scraps broke out.

CLASHES IN THE CAPITAL

BLM protesters were reportedly trying to get through police lines to take on the counter group - who had gathered earlier to defend London monuments before some turned on cops.

During clashes outside the station a number of pro-statue protesters were left bloodied after being caught up in scraps, and a number of people from both sides were detained.

Ugly scenes throughout the afternoon showed a crowd, made up of war veterans, football fans and far-right organisations including Britain First, massing in clear breach of social-distancing guidelines and attacking police.

A "patriotic unity" event was organised by the Democratic Football Lads, who had come to protect statues from a Black Lives Matter protest that was later called off over safety fears.

Imarn Ayton, 29, a figurehead of the movement who has given speeches alongside Star Wars actor John Boyega, had urged protesters to stay away today to avoid a "race war".

She said: "I think everyone is very worried about any type of race war that could occur because that takes away from what we're trying to achieve, which is abolishing institutional racism."

Six people were taken to hospital in the London scuffles, and 15 people treated by the London Ambulance Service - with six police officers injured.