London police are bracing for chaos as thousands of right-wing protesters descend on the city today for a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march led by Tommy Robinson.
The Met announced it is deploying 1,600 officers as Robinson supporters and opposing anti-racism demonstrators, who are hosting a ‘March Against Fascism’, stage rival rallies.
The march organised by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim activist Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, met at Stamford Street near London’s Waterloo Bridge before making its way to the southern end of Whitehall where a rally will take place.
A counter-protest organised by group Stand Up To Racism is due to gather at the other end of Whitehall, the main thoroughfare towards parliament, later.
Thousands have turned out bedecked in Union Jacks and England flags at the Unite the Kingdom march, which is expected to mourn Charlie Kirk, the American conservative activist shot dead on Wednesday as he gave a talk at a university in Utah.
It is sure to be a topic discussed at length by speakers at the rally, with photographs of Kirk and flags with his face on being held by some protesters.
Planned speakers include far-right politicians Eric Zemmour from France and Petr Bystron of Alternative for Germany (AfD). Commentator Katie Hopkins and controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson are also expected.
London’s Metropolitan Police said barriers will be in place to create space between the two groups. The force also confirmed live facial recognition will not be in place for today’s protest – it was recently used at Notting Hill Carnival.
It said more than 1,600 officers will be deployed across London on Saturday, including 500 brought in from other forces.
The march organised by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim activist Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is meeting at Stamford Street near London’s Waterloo Bridge (pictured)
A man poses for pictures on Saturday morning as he joins supporters of Tommy Robinson for the Unite The Kingdom rally in London
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon, has said Saturday’s demo will be the UK’s biggest free speech festival with thousands flocking to the capital, boasting: ‘The football lads are coming from everywhere’
Thousands of people gathered in Stamford Street, London early on Saturday ahead of a march on Whitehall
Police officers monitor protesters in London dressed as medieval knights and carrying wooden crosses
The streets were filled with Union Jacks, St George’s Crosses and US flags on Saturday
The Met announced it is to deploy some 1,600 officers as Robinson supporters and opposing anti-racism demonstrators
Police officers prepare to escort the Unite the Kingdom march to Whitehall, where a rally will take place
Around 1,000 officers will be on duty at the marches, while the remaining 600 will police other high-profile events including Premier League matches.
Scotland Yard will have to contend with derbies between West Ham and Tottenham and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton will entertain local rivals Millwall in the Championship.
In addition, thousands of Leeds fans will be heading south for their match at Fulham, Nottingham Forest are away at Arsenal and Sunderland are playing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Early photographs on Saturday morning showed crowds already gathering in anticipation of today’s protests, with many draped in Union Jacks, England and American flags.
Yaxley-Lennon, 42, described the event as the UK’s biggest free speech festival and said thousands are due to attend, boasting: ‘The football lads are coming from everywhere.’
Robinson has called on attendees of his rally to not wear masks, drink alcohol or be violent.
In a video on X he said: ‘It’s not a time for riots. It’s not a time for violence. It’s a time where you come and you stand proudly for your country.’
He added: ‘This is an imperative message and an important message: we have to control ourselves.’
People gather at the Socialist Workers Party tent set up ahead of the March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism in central London
Placards for counter protesters were seen being prepared ahead of the March Against Fascism from 12pm
Some of those at the protest dressed up in novelty clothing or fancy dress as English soldiers
People carrying flags and banners gather at Stamford Street ahead of a march on Whitehall
Around 1,000 police officers are being deployed to keep the rival protest groups apart
People carrying flags and banners gathered in central London on Saturday
Protesters joining the Unite The Kingdom march gather outside Blackfriars Station
As well as Union Jacks and England flags, protesters from Scotland and Wales brought their own national flags to the event
Protesters in support of Tommy Robinson gathered close to the iMax cinema south of the river
In addition to the two high-profile protests, police will have to contend with derbies between West Ham and Tottenham and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton will entertain local rivals Millwall in the Championship
Police will try to keep Robinson’s supporters separate from counter-protesters from Stand up to Racism (stock image)
Counter-protesters will gather in Russell Square from midday before marching via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally.
There will be strict conditions imposed under the Public Order Act on where and when campaigners can protest, the force added.
Meanwhile, the March Against Fascism will form up in Russell Square from midday before marching via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally.
The march will be led by hundreds of women, Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) said, including independent MP Diane Abbott.
Samira Ali, national organiser for SUTR, said: ‘Our demonstration will be sending a message loud and clear: we are united against the far right threat. Women don’t need the far right to keep us safe.’
On Friday Muslim Londoners were told not to avoid the capital today despite the risk of clashes between rival groups.
Commander Clair Haynes, who is overseeing the policing operation, said she recognised there were concerns for London’s Muslims ahead of Robinson’s march given the record of anti-Islam rhetoric from the activist and his supporters.
‘There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town,’ she said.
‘That is not our advice.
‘Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.
Participants in the Unite the Kingdom march have been told they must form up in the area shaded above on Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge
Demonstrators from Unite the Kingdom have been told they must follow the agreed route above and cannot enter the ’emergency access lane’ on Westminster Bridge to ensure there will be a path for emergency vehicles such as ambulances
Counter protesters attending the March Against Fascism must form up in Russell Square before taking the route above
‘This will be a very busy day with protest, sporting fixtures, concerts and other events. The Met is used to delivering the sort of complex and large-scale policing operation that is required to keep the public safe, and we have a detailed plan to do so on Saturday.
‘I am grateful to the many hundreds of Met officers who are being deployed away from their day-to-day roles and to the 500 or so officers from around the country who have responded to our request for support.
‘The main focus of the operation is on the two protests in central London. We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights, but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur.
‘In the run-up to the protests we have been in close contact with the organisers, with local business and community representatives, and with representatives of communities across London more broadly.
‘We would ask all those taking part in the protests to be considerate of the communities they are passing through to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime.’
Metropolitan Police Federation chairwoman Paula Dodds said officers policing large protests regularly are ’emotionally and physically exhausted’.
‘We’ve seen multiple Metropolitan Police officers be refused leave and have much-needed rest days cancelled,’ she said.
‘Our colleagues have and continue to lose time with their families, friends and loved ones because they have been pulled into London to police protests. We must remember there are no ‘extra’ police officers. Just the same hard-working ones having their days off cancelled, having to work longer shifts and being moved from other areas.
‘They have come under attack and been violently assaulted for doing the job society expects of them. The demand is relentless. And it’s not sustainable.’
