London protests latest: Over 100,000 join Tommy Robinson march as police attacked

Tommy Robinson supporters and Stand Up to Racism protesters have stared each other down at separate demonstrations in Whitehall.

The two groups were divided by a line of police officers on Whitehall Place, one side waving placards that said “refugees welcome. Stop the far right” and the other flying Union and St George’s flags.

Anti-fascist protesters shouted “Tommy Robinson’s a wanker” and “whose streets, our streets”.

A speaker said the Tommy Robinson protest was “so boring, they’ve come round to listen to us.”

Metropolitan Police officers detained a man near to Scotland Yard’s headquarters.

The man, who was wearing a black blazer and had a Union flag wrapped around his waist, was escorted by several officers away from Whitehall Gardens on Victoria Embankment and down Horse Guards Avenue.

The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

Diane Abbott has called on the prime minister to denounce the demonstrations outside hotels as racist.

Speaking at today’s anti-racism counter protest, the veteran MP, and current mother of the House of Commons, said: “My message to the government is that … We need to be clear that these demonstrations around hotels are racist demonstrations. We have to be clear about that.”

The Metropolitan Police said a number of officers have been assaulted in central London.

The force said protesters from the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstrations have been trying to enter the “sterile area” between them and counter-protesters causing officers to intervene.

In a statement on X, the force said: “Officers are having to intervene in multiple locations to stop Unite the Kingdom protesters trying to access sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing groups.

“A number of officers have been assaulted.”

Earlier, the force said officers had been attacked with projectiles from people attending the march organised by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Police have asked Stand Up to Racism protesters to stay on Whitehall as Tommy Robinson supporters have gathered on all of the adjacent roads, a speaker has said.

A large crowd waving Union flags could be seen in the distance on Trafalgar Square, which is at the top of Whitehall.

Police officers have been attacked with projectiles from people attending Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” march.

The Met Police released a video of officers trying to control the crowd and prevent them from entering the sterile area on Whitehall, designed to keep the two protests apart.

The force said officers were attacked with projectiles and have had to use force to avoid their cordon being breached.

Stand Up to Racism protesters are shouting “fascist scum”, metres from a group of Tommy Robinson protesters who are behind police carrying riot shields.

The Robinson protesters are at the edge of Horse Guards Avenue while the anti-fascist protesters are gathered on Whitehall. The two streets are perpendicular.

The Robinson protesters waved Union flags and a metres-wide St George’s flag that said “stop the boats”. They could be seen shouting at the line of officers and towards the anti-fascist crowd.

Thousands of anti-fascist protesters have arrived on Whitehall shouting “our streets” and “the people united will never be defeated”.

They turned the corner into the street shortly before 2.30pm and walked towards a stage where speakers will soon address the crowds.

St George’s and Union flags could be seen on the other end of Whitehall where Tommy Robinson’s rally is being held, with the two demonstrations divided by a large police presence including vans.