Far-right groups have been accused of cynically exploiting the death of Lee Rigby to provoke racially motivated unrest as reports increase of anti-Muslim incidents since his murder.
A wave of arrests took place around Britain as complaints flooded in to police over racist comments being posted on social media sites. There were reports of graffiti and one petrol bomb attack on mosques.
A march by the English Defence League in Newcastle, planned before the Woolwich murder, attracted three times the 500 protesters that had been expected, outnumbering an anti-fascist march organised in response.
Flags from widespread parts of the country were on display at the protest, along with one marked "Taleban Hunting Club".
Riot police were among about 1000 officers on duty in the city centre and some shops closed as a precaution.