Extra police will be on the streets of east London tonight after missiles were thrown at officers, who raised their batons in response, amid disturbance linked to protests in Bangladesh.

Scotland Yard said ‘two large groups’ of men were fighting in the street, while hundreds were involved in wider demonstrations in Whitechapel, east London, on Thursday.

Officers could be seen raising their batons as they allegedly came under attack during episodes of violence. Two police officers were injured.

The Metropolitan Police has now referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after a video shared on social media appeared to show an officer striking a man twice, with more police arriving on the scene and taking the man to the ground.

Other videos shared widely online appeared to show rocks being thrown and cars being damaged as large groups of mostly adult men clashed in Whitechapel, which has a large Bangladeshi community.

The disturbance in Whitechapel, east London, on Thursday evening saw hundreds of men gather on the street 

Police believe the clashes, in which two officers were injured, were linked to the protests in Bangladesh

Horns blared amongst the shouting, with police ordering: ‘Move, just go,’ and ‘get back’.  

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who is in charge of policing in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, said: ‘I am grateful to the officers who bravely intervened without hesitation to restore order in a challenging situation.

‘This was a serious incident and had it not been for the decisive intervention of local officers and other Met colleagues it could well have resulted in more serious injuries, further damage or worse.

‘I recognise that events that take place in Bangladesh can have a significant impact on communities here in Tower Hamlets, but we cannot allow that strength of feeling toi tip into threats, violence and disorder.

‘I am grateful to those in the community who stood alongside my officers last night and encouraged calm. In the coming days I would appeal to others to follow their lead and to avoid any further escalation.

‘Residents will see a visible police presence in the area over the coming days.’

Scotland Yard said police were called at around 8pm on Thursday after receiving several reports of disorder in Greatorex Street.

Upon arrival, local officers found two large groups of men fighting in the street amongst a wider demonstration of several hundred.

Extra police will be on the streets of East London tonight, although officers have appealed for calm

Videos on social media appeared to show rocks being thrown, and police officers raising their batons

Officers intervened to separate the groups and one man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

Protective shields were used as the officers formed a barrier between opposing crowds.

Police said ‘projectiles were thrown towards them and two officers sustained injuries as a result’.

A number of cars were damaged during the incident. Resources from elsewhere in London were deployed to the area to provide further support.

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The Met said it is believed the disorder was linked to protests in Bangladesh in recent days that have resulted in fatalities.

Thousands of student protesters have clashed with armed police during anti-government riots in Bangladesh this week, while dozens of people have died amid a brutal crackdown.

Nationwide unrest, which has seen huge bonfires lit in the streets, police pelted with sticks and rocks and demonstrators clashing with counter-protesters, is fuelled by high unemployment among the youth and the allocation of government jobs.

Nearly a fifth of Bangladesh’s 170 million population are out of work or education, and protesters are demanding the state stop setting aside a third of government jobs for families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Police and security officials fired bullets and tear gas at protesters in Bangladesh today, as internet and mobile services were cut off after days of deadly clashes in the capital Dhaka and beyond.