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A lone demonstrator attempted to set fire to the Union Jack flag on The Cenotaph today as hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with police officers during the anti-racism rally. 

Violent scenes showed police officers bleeding on the street, fireworks being launched into the air and protesters dragged across the road as a peaceful demonstration turned violent after thousands descended upon Whitehall, London, today, to take part in the march. 

The shocking images come as demonstrations continue to increase around the world after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 for nine minutes. 

Demonstrators flouted social distancing rules to flood the streets around the U.S. embassy in central London before marching on Westminster, protesting against racial injustice and police brutality. 

While the majority of the protests remained peaceful, violence erupted yet again, with images showing officers and protesters suffering injuries during the melee which led to 12 arrests.

Today the Metropolitan Police confirmed the majority of the arrests had been made for public order offences and one was for criminal damage following the incident at the Cenotaph. 

As the protests descended into chaos, one protester (left and right) was seen climbing on the historic monument The Cenotaph and setting fire to the Union Jack flag

A police officer sits on the ground and receives medical attention after demonstrations became violent during a Black Lives Matter protested in London today

A firework is set off as clashes take place between police officers and Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Whitehall, London  

A protestor is pulled away peaceful demonstrations in the capital turn violent in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the U.S.

Police carrying batons and wearing protective helmets clash with demonstrators during the Black Lives Matter protest 

A demonstrator climbs onto The Cenotaph in Whitehall as a peaceful protest descends into chaos in London earlier today

Officers carrying protective shield stand guard after a flare hits the pavement during the anti-racism rally in London

Outside Downing Street some demonstrators were seen turning violent as police officers tried to control the mass chaos and form a barricade with their riot shields.  

Elsewhere, one protester was pictured climbing onto The Cenotaph, the national war monument designed by the British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens and dedicated to the millions of lives lost during the First World War, and setting fire to the Union Jack flag. 

The national memorial, which means 'empty tomb' in Greek, is where the Queen leads the annual service of remembrance each Armistice Day.

Today Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the anti-racism demonstrations had been 'subverted by thuggery' following a day of protests across the UK.

He tweeted: 'People have a right to protest peacefully & while observing social distancing but they have no right to attack the police. 

'These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery - and they are a betrayal of the cause they purport to serve. Those responsible will be held to account.'   

Earlier today images showed Black Lives Matter protesters tearing down a statue of 17th century slave trader and philanthropist Edward Colston in Bristol and dumping it in the harbour.

Footage showed demonstrators, packed closely together - despite social distancing guidelines, heaving the metal monument down with ropes before cheering and dancing around it, with many placing their knees on the fallen statue as it lay on the ground.  

Just hours later, the M6 in the Midlands was closed as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway.

A video posted on social media showed crowds of people covering the motorway at the Exhall interchange near Coventry as traffic remained stationary on the other side.

One eyewitness said there were around 100 people taking part and that they were chanting 'Black Lives Matter' over and over again.

Many drivers on the motorway were pictured emerging from their cars to watch the protests, which began at around 5pm, and the southbound carriageway was closed for around two hours. 

Today spokesperson for the protests, Superintendent Jo Edwards, said: 'Regrettably officers were faced with further scenes of violence and disorder following a day of predominantly peaceful protest throughout the capital.

'This is a hugely impassioned movement and we understand the public's desire to have their voices heard – however it is not right that this passion has turned into violent attacks on officers.

'I would like to thank our officers, and those from the City of London Police and British Transport Police for their professionalism in the face of entirely unacceptable behaviour.

'Overnight our policing operation will continue and I would urge demonstrators thinking of returning to stay at home. The threat of Coronavirus remains very real, and we need you to protect yourselves, your friends and your family.'

As the chaos continued, one protester, who took part in defacing the statue of the former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was heard on camera saying: 'Tagged up Churchill as a racist on the statue of Churchill because he is a confirmed racist. 

'He didn’t fight the Nazis for the commonwealth or for anything else or for any personal freedoms. He fought the Nazis purely to protect the commonwealth against the invasion by foreign forces. He didn’t do it for black people or people of colour. He did it purely for colonialism.

'People will be angry but at the end of the day I'm angry that for many years we've been oppressed. You can't enslave people, have the largest colonial empire ever in history and they try and come like 'yeah let's be peaceful'' it don't work like that.' 

Flares are launched into the air as police and demonstrators clash during Black Lives Matter protest in the nation's capital today

Members of the police force attempt to disperse the crowds as a demonstrator climbs onto the national war monument in London

Demonstrators clash with police carrying protective shields after thousands took to the streets of London during the anti-racism rally 

A group of police officers form a barrier in front of protesters in Whitehall after a Black Lives Matter protest in London became violent

A protester wearing a black coat and mask stands in front of a Winston Churchill statue which has been defaced in Parliament Square 

People try to clean the graffiti on a Winston Churchill memorial statue in Parliament Square today after some demonstrators to deface the monument

A group of people gather at the memorial site in an attempt to clean the graffiti left by some demonstrators at the rally today

A protester wearing a face covering holds a blue flare into the air as demonstrations turn to chaos amid the Black Lives Matter march

Police form a line against protestors as demonstrators descend into chaos following the death of George Floyd in custody in Minneapolis

Some demonstrators hurl objects at police in Parliament Square, London, today as a part of the Black Lives Matter protest became violent

In Parliament Square, police officers forced a line against some demonstrators as the anti- racism rally descended into chaos

Police wearing protective shields clash with protesters during the Black Lives Matter protest in Westminster, London

A group of police officers detain a protester in central London as demonstrations descend into chaos and some are injured

One demonstrator is held on the ground by a group of officers during the Black Lives Matter rally in central London today

A group of people run away from the scene after some protesters become violent during the Black Lives Matter demonstration

Police and protesters clash once again as a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest turns violent in Whitehall, London today

Police officers form a line and prevent demonstrators from entering King Charles Street in London today as protests continue to take place 

A protester (left and right) is restrained by police before being taken away from the scenes in hand-cuffs as the demonstrations continue

Protesters and police face each other during the Black Lives Matter protest in London today just a day after it was revealed 14 officers had been left injured during the demonstrations in the city yesterday

A person wearing a black hooded jumper and a balaclava is restrained by police and escorted away from the violent scenes

One demonstrator is restrained by two police officers near Westminster tube station as the ongoing protests turn violent

Protests and police clash near The Cenotaph in London as the anti-racism rally breaks into chaos and some are left injured

Police stretch out their arms and urge protesters to move back amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in London today

A demonstrator wearing a face mask is  detained by police officers during the Black Lives Matter protest today in London

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that while people had a right to protest the anti-racism demonstrations had been 'subverted by thuggery' 

The nationwide scenes come just a day after Met Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, revealed that 14 police officers had been hurt during anti-racism protests in London yesterday evening which saw a police officer injured after falling off her horse. 

In a statement yesterday the police chief said: 'I am deeply saddened and depressed that a minority of protesters became violent towards officers in central London yesterday evening. 

'This led to 14 officers being injured, in addition to 13 hurt in earlier protests this week.

'We have made a number of arrests and justice will follow. I know many who were seeking to make their voices heard will be as appalled as I am by those scenes. 

'I would urge protesters to please find another way to make your views heard which does not involve coming out on the streets of London, risking yourself, your families and officers as we continue to face [the deadly coronavirus].' 

Following the destruction of the statue in Bristol today former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid condemned protesters' decision to force it down, declaring on Twitter: 'This is not OK'. 

Speaking after the demonstration, superintendent Andy Bennett vowed there would be an investigation into the 'act of criminal damage,' near Bristol Harbourside, where slave ships once docked centuries ago. 

Meanwhile Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News: 'I think that is utterly disgraceful. That speaks to the acts of public disorder that actually have become a distraction from the cause that people are actually protesting. 

A demonstrator lights a flare and holds it in the air as the anti-racism protests continued in Parliament Square today 

Police officers try to push back protesters during the anti-racism rally in London today as protests continue across the nation

Barriers are left scattered on the road after police and demonstrators clash in Victoria Street during the anti-racism rally

A group of protesters clash members of the police force in London as the rally takes a violent turn in certain regions across the UK

A police officer and a group of demonstrators clash at King Charles Street archway in London as protests continue across the country

The police force wear protective armour and hold their shields as they are deployed to the scene in London amid the demonstations

Some protesters stand in front of police officers in Parliament Square, London, as the ant-racism rally continues across the country

Officers in protective gear form a barricade against demonstrators in London today after the anti-racism rally saw scenes of violence

Officers stand guard as demonstrators continue in Whitehall, London, today following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month

Police form a barrier against some of the protesters as the peaceful protest once agin turns violent in Whitehall, London, today

Clashes begin to take place between police and demonstrators today as the Black Lives Matter protest turns violent

Hundreds of protesters descended upon Whitehall in London today to demand justice for the police killing of George Floyd and show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement

Protesters wave signs showing their support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in America

Police congregate on Westminster Bridge as thousands flood the streets of London today during a Black Lives Matter protest

'Sheer vandalism and disorder is completely unacceptable and its right the police follow up on that and make sure justice is undertaken.'  

The scenes come as demonstrations continue to increase around the world after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 for nine minutes.

Following the death of George Floyd, three other officers who were also present at the scene, Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.  

Earlier today Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is 'undoubtedly a risk' that there will be an increase in Covid-19 cases following the protests, as he urged people not to gather in groups of more than six people.

Mr Hancock said he supported the activists' arguments, but said: 'Please don't gather in groups of more than six people because there is also a pandemic that we must address and control.' 

Protesters tied ropes around the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol city centre, before tearing it to the ground on Sunday 

Demonstrators in Bristol were heard laughing and cheering as the statue of the slave trader was toppled by protesters into the harbour

Just hours later the M6 was forced to close closed in the Midlands as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway

A protester wearing a face covering joins other demonstrators and walks along the M6 during a Black Lives Matter rally earlier today 

Many drovers on the motorway emerged from their cars as the protesters walked down the carriageway and forced the motorway to come to a standstill