Emergency services descended en masse to north London this afternoon after violence broke out on the streets of Islington. 

Pictures and video show a large crowd centred on White Lion Street, near Angel Station.

Several members of the group are shown fighting — while carrying poles and other makeshift weapons.

Crowds could be heard shouting, as buses were halted in the street by their presence. 

Some people in the crowd held their hands in the air, crossing them at the wrist, shouting ‘stop’.

Other protesters sat in the street, blocking traffic from moving past. 

In video footage from the scene, a line of police officers could be seen standing together close to the crowd. 

Police officers try to manage the situation in Islington High Street

Officers try to stop the protesters as the London street grinds to a halt 

A group of protesters can be seen standing in front of a police van on the high street 

The group of protesters stand in the street, blocking traffic from passing safely 

A police officer stands facing the group of protesters in the high street

The group stands infront of a bus in the middle of the street in Islington

A man sitting on a motorbike cannot move due to the crowd outside the station 

Two police cats park in the road to attend to the incident in the high street 

Officers can be seen trying to clear the road and manage the situation

The group blocked the road outside Angel Station, with traffic unable to safely pass

A man sits on the floor as the crowd stands in the road in Islington

Emergency services descended en masse to north London this afternoon after violence broke out on the streets of Islington

 Pictures and video show a large crowd centred on White Lion Street, near the Eritrean Embassy

A large police presence swarmed on to the site near Angel tube station

Later on, the protesters stood close to the police line, shouting and raising their hands in the air again, with the group pushing against officers.

As the pushing continued and became stronger, the police line broke, with officers moving the protesters back.

As officers attempted to clear the street so that traffic could pass through safely, the group continued to chant and shout. 

The disorder is close to the Eritrean Embassy, with at least one person in the crowd spotted waving an Eritrean flag. 

Officers were then seen trying to disperse the group, shouting ‘get back’, with some pushing protesters back along the street.

Former BBC journalist and African specialist Martin Plaut earlier advertised a protest outside the Eritrean Embassy, condemning Eritrea’s occupation of the Tigray region in the north of the country.

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.