Balaclava-clad rioters waving Palestinian flags smashed a car in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.

Footage shows how they attacked the car as the driver was seemingly trying to flee.

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.”

A huge crowd wearing balaclavas and face masks turned up in Birmingham after rumours of a far-right rally circulated online.

Jess Philips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, said: “These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them”.

Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, warned children who get involved in disorder could face life-long consequences.

“One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing,” he said.

“They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.

“For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders.

“Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.

“If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.”

Concern for the safety of lawyers has been voiced after a list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies were shared as targets for gatherings in the coming days.

A message believed to have been widely shared on chat groups lists addresses for immigration law specialists and advice organisations across England, and invites people to “mask up” if they go.

Tell Mama, a group monitoring Islamophobia in the UK, said it had alerted police and counter-terrorism to the “far-right threats”.

Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson condemned the violence which has already taken place, and said they have “serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our members” after the list was shared giving “targets for further protest and violence this week”.

He described such gatherings as a “direct assault on our legal profession” and therefore a “direct assault on our democratic values”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said “arrests are ongoing” after a police van was damaged and officers were met with “a level of violence” during demonstrations in Plymouth.

In a post on social media, the force said: “We have seen a level of violence towards officers in Plymouth and a police van has been damaged.

“We are taking action against individuals who are intent on criminality. Arrests are ongoing.”

Stones have been thrown as far-right and anti-racist demonstrators clashed in Plymouth amid a wave of violence sweeping the UK.

The protesters clashed as campaign group Stand Up To Racism and a “stop the boats” protest met at Guildhall Square in Plymouth this evening.

Devon and Cornwall Police also said violence had been carried out against its officers and a riot van had been damaged during the confrontation.