A unity rally is being held in Oxford this evening amid anti-migrant demonstrations across the country as police mobilise resources to address any issues that may arise.

Oxford Stand Up To Racism and Oxfordshire & District Trades Union Council are holding a unity rally at Carfax Tower from 4pm.

An email issued by the Faculty of Classics, shared with the Oxford Mail, states police "are aware of the situation and have mobilised resources to address any issues that may arise".

It adds: "The size of the protest is currently unknown, but it would be worth considering alternative routes to avoid this area."

Protesters in Oxford Protesters in Oxford (Image: Edward Burnett, Newsquest) Protests organised by the far-right started across the country after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport on Monday.

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So far, 344 people have been arrested in relation to disorder following demonstrations in Bolton, Weymouth, Tamworth, Hull, Liverpool, and Middlesbrough over the weekend.

Protesters in the city centre Protesters in the city centre (Image: Edward Burnett, Newsquest) Teige, a member of Oxford Stand Up To Racism, said: "We have called the event to unite Oxford in the spirit of the Southport community who grieved their terrible losses together last Tuesday, and again came together to repair the mosque property and reject the Islamophobic and anti-migrant violence incited predicated on lies about the attacks in their community.

"We reject the continued racist attacks last week and weekend on mosques and refugee accommodation by violent thugs, and we recognise that the great majority of people agree.

"Please join us today with a programme of respect for recent losses and unity across the breadth of Oxford's wonderful community.

"We would be grateful if you mobilise your parties, workplaces and neighbourhoods to attend.

"United we stand."

Police officers and PCSOs (police community support officer) stood on watch while the protest took place at Carfax Tower. 

Pat Carmody, who was at the protest, said: “Those horrific murders in Southport are of course horrific. It is a community trying to greave, and the right wing are trying to exploit this.

"What we have seen over the last four or five days are pogroms. Black people are being singled out. Asian people are being pulled out of their cars. They want to strike fear into these communities.

"We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters."

It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called a Cobra meeting earlier in the day in response to the national violence. 

He has condemned the "far-right thuggery" and says those involved "will regret it".

The Prime Minister said: “The first is we will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.

“The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning."