Protesters were seen lighting flares after scaling a Winston Churchill statue as police arrested 43 people in London from two major rival demonstrations on Saturday.
Police said four officers were assaulted and six suffered ‘hate crime offences’, adding that fortunately none of the injuries were serious.
Around 80,000 demonstrators descended on London as Scotland Yard deployed 4,000 officers to tackle the Unite the Kingdom rally, led by right-wing firebrand activist Tommy Robinson, and a pro-Palestine demo to mark Nakba Day, which refers to the displacement of Palestinians in 1948 for the founding of Israel.
Scotland Yard deployed 4,000 officers to tackle the Unite the Kingdom rally, led by right-wing firebrand activist Tommy Robinson, and a pro-Palestine demo to mark Nakba Day, which refers to the displacement of Palestinians in 1948 for the founding of Israel.
Armoured vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters were deployed alongside thousands of officers in an ‘unprecedented’ £4.5million operation.
Chelsea and Manchester City also faced off on Saturday in the FA Cup final at Wembley, leaving police to tackle football fans potentially spilling into the rallies after the game.
Sir Keir Starmer warned on Saturday of a ‘fight for the soul of this country’ as the Met Police carried out one of its most significant policing operations in years.
Thousands of Unite the Kingdom protesters, waving Union Jack and St George’s flags, began lining the streets of London as early as 9am and demonstrated late into the afternoon.
Protesters were seen climbing a Churchill statue in Parliament Square, Westminster, before setting off flares.
The Met said 43 people were arrested as of 7.30pm at both of the two protests, with an additional 22 at the FA Cup Final.
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters light flares and wave England and Union Jack flags next to a statue of Winston Churchill
Police made 43 arrests on Saturday of protestors from both of the major rival demonstrations. Pictured: a man being arrested in South Kensington
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A protester waves a Union Jack flag in front of the Churchill statue
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A protestor holds a red flare as he chants on top of a telephone box during the rally today
Ahead of the Unite the Kingdom rally, footage circulated of a man, believed to be Raise the Colours leader Ryan Bridge, being handcuffed outside Euston Station while flag-waving protesters hurled abuse at cops.
The Met said an individual was arrested at Euston on suspicion of GBH in relation to an incident in Stirchley, Birmingham, on Thursday, where a man was run over by a van after a group of people took down Union Jack flags put up by Raise the Colours.
Tonight the Met Police released footage from the bodycam of an officer making an arrest, after videos of the arrest outside Euston Station were widely circulated on social media, showing a crowd swearing at the police and calling them ‘traitors’.
The bodycam footage showed the arrest of a man at around 10.40am on Saturday.
The Met Police said in a post on X: ‘A video of officers making an arrest near Euston earlier has been widely shared.
‘Here it is from the officers’ perspective.
‘One arrest in a crowd requires numerous officers and can involve unpredictable levels of physical and verbal resistance. It’s not as simple as many think.’
The Unite the Kingdom rally on Saturday eventually ended with Tommy Robinson thanking the Met Police, asking the crowds to ‘show them some respect’ and telling those watching ‘be safe on your way home’.
The Metropolitan Police posted on X saying: ‘The rallies for both protests are ongoing.
‘There have so far been 31 arrests across the whole operation. We will provide a more detailed breakdown at the conclusion.
‘While this may seem high, to this point both protests have proceeded largely without significant incident.’
Officers were also seen chasing after and arresting pro-Palestine protesters shortly after the Nakba march began in South Kensington.
The previous Unite the Kingdom protest in September was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people.
The Met Police released a video ‘from the officers’ perspective’ tonight amid another video of an arrest circulating widely on social media
The Met Police shared the footage on X, writing: ‘One arrest in a crowd requires numerous officers and can involve unpredictable levels of physical and verbal resistance. It’s not as simple as many think’
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Some 4,000 officers have been deployed to control the protests taking place in London today
UNITE THE KINGDOM: The march has been organised by Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (pictured)
NAKBA DAY: Police move to detain a woman during the pro-Palestine march
NAKBA DAY: A pro-Palestinian protester is detained by the police
The yellow route shows the Unite the Kingdom protest, with the Nakba Day protest in orange
Ahead of today’s Unite the Kingdom march, Sir Keir said: ‘We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.’
Police are managing a so-called ‘sterile zone’ between the two marches. The Nakba Day march formed at Exhibition Road in Kensington, then go via Cromwell Gardens, Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, before ending at Pall Mall.
The rally will then take place at Waterloo Place – with organisers told speeches and music must end by 5pm, and the assembly by 5.30pm.
The Unite the Kingdom march started on Kingsway and moved through Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, ending in Parliament Square, where Robinson gave a speech. Speeches and music must conclude by 5.30pm, and the assembly by 6pm.
Taking to the stage at 1.35pm, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said: ‘Are you watching Keir Starmer?
‘Today, I want to ask you all something, are you ready for the Battle of Britain? ‘In 2029, we have an election. If we don’t register to vote, if you don’t become an activist… we will lose our country forever.’
Other speakers included former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins, television personality Ant Middleton, former actor Laurence Fox and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.
Siobhan Whyte, the mother of Rhiannon Whyte who was murdered by a Sudanese asylum seeker, told the Unite the Kingdom protest Starmer ‘failed my daughter’.
She said: ‘Keir Starmer, where do I even begin to discuss this abhorrent excuse of a leader of our country? He has failed us. He has failed my daughter, Rhiannon.
‘I believe she will still be alive today if this disgusting excuse of a man had not been in control.’
Rhiannon Whyte was stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver by Sudanese migrant Deng Chol Majek.
Her mother added: ‘Rhiannon was stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver. If she had survived she would have had no quality of life.
‘To celebrate he then went and purchased alcohol…later caught on CCTV.
She told the crowd the attacker told numerous lies and refused identity tests.
She added: ‘He was denied asylum in Germany and Italy, my question is why. How many more women, children or even men have to go through this?
‘This has to stop. Shut the borders. Detain them and send them back. Stop giving them a home.
‘Starmer has failed us. He has failed my daughter.’
The crowd was told there were issues with the schedule and video links during the speeches.
Ahead of the march, Robinson wrote in a post on X: ‘Today, we Unite the Kingdom and the West in the greatest patriotic display the world has ever seen.’
Huge crowds were heard chanting ‘Keir Starmer is a w*****’ and ‘We want Starmer out’ along Kingsway.
Kim Anderson, 68, from Norwich, has attended today to ‘rid Britain of Starmer, once and for all’.
She said: ‘I’m fed up of Starmer. This country is a mess. I am disgusted for being called far-Right. All I want is an end to the ridiculous amounts of immigration and billions being spent on people doing nothing to contribute to this country.
‘I’ve had enough. But we are being labeled as being wrong. The double standards in this country is outrageous. I am proud to be part of this country.’
Mother Sandra Dilks, 45, from Epping, Essex, has travelled to London with friends.
She said: ‘This is a massive day. I can’t wait. It’ll be peaceful but loud. We’ve had enough of Keir Starmer. He’s a disgrace and he has ruined this country.’
Many pro-Trump flags were also visible in the crowd, as well as Union Jacks, the St George’s flag and others saying ‘Jesus is the way of life’.
Chants of ‘Oh Tommy Tommy’ were heard coming from the crowd as well as ‘We want freedom’.
Police were also seen confiscating cans of lager from Unite the Kingdom supporters – after Westminster Council issued a public spaces protection order to ban people from carrying alcohol in cans and bottles.
Janine Ponting, 35, joined the demo after a 12-hour journey on car and train from Newcastle.
The receptionist said: ‘It’s an amazing turn out. Our country is over. We need radical change. Starmer has destroyed it. Today, we’re sending a message that we’ve simply had enough.’
As the protest got underway, Sir Keir wrote on X: ‘Today the voices of division will be loud. They don’t speak for the country I know, one that belongs to all of us. That’s our Britain. A Britain worth fighting for.’
His deputy, David Lammy, added: ‘The Unite the Kingdom march organisers are spreading hatred and division. They do not reflect the Britain I’m proud of. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right and one I will always protect. But if protest turns violent, we will act swiftly, with extra court capacity in place.’
Meanwhile, Daniel Kebede, National Education Union general secretary, said ‘we’re marching today to show that we will not allow Tommy Robinson and the far right to divide our communities’.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism co-convener, said: ‘Violence broke out the last time Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom demonstration mobilised what was one of the largest right-wing street demonstrations in recent British history.
‘This comes amid wider attempts by figures such as Elon Musk to amplify far-right narratives and encourage political instability.
‘The far right is attempting to exploit the cost-of-living crisis by stirring up racism and falsely blaming migrants and refugees for people’s hardships in order to build a dangerous street movement.
‘History shows where this kind of politics can lead.
‘That is why tens of thousands of people will mobilise today to oppose racism and the far right, and to demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain reject hate and division.’
In South Kensington, thousands of pro-Palestine protesters assembled for a rival protest.
Chants of the controversial ‘from the river to the sea’ phrase were heard shortly before protesters were due to set off.
Police were seen watching on.
A woman was arrested after she appeared to refuse to remove a fabric face mask she was wearing at the pro-Palestine protest.
She was part of a group of protesters who were all asked to remove fabric and surgical face coverings.
A separate group, who were wearing orange jumpsuits with masks over their faces bearing a photo of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, were also asked to remove their masks.
Protesters also held signs, some of which sported anti-Semitic slogans suggesting the UK had been ‘corrupted’ by the ‘Zionist lobby.’
Many protesters also had signs showing opposition to the Unite the Kingdom protesters.
‘Smash the far right’ read one sign, while another said ‘Stop Farage, Stop Trump.’
Others were sear with signs showing a red inverted triangle, widely considered to be a symbol of sympathy for Hamas.
The sign read: ‘Martyrs do not die. Their blood blooms revolution.’
UNITE THE KINGDOM: In Parliament Square, protesters let off flares beside the statue of Winston Churchill
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A protester sits on a red phone box with a flare and a Redeemer cross
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Crowds gather in Parliament Square with Union Jack and England flags
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters gather in Kingsway for the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march and rally in London
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Aerial shots show the protesters gathering in central London
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A man was pictured as he was taken into custody outside Kings Cross before the marches began
NAKBA DAY: Police detain a person during the pro-Palestine march in central London
NAKBA DAY: A woman is detained by several officers as the pro-Palestine rally got underway in Kensington
NAKBA DAY: Protesters hold placards up as they march through London in solidarity with Palestinians
NAKBA DAY: Protesters were seen waving Palestinian flags in South Kensington
NAKBA DAY: Activists held signs up saying ‘peace’ and ‘humanity’
NAKBA DAY: Pro-Palestine protesters gather next to a new Banksy statue in London
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters gathered early in London ahead of the huge rally
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters were seen waving England and Union Jack flags on Saturday
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters draped themselves in Union Jack flags during the rally
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A woman holds a placard up with the words: ‘Leave our kids alone’
UNITE THE KINGDOM: A sea of Union Jack flags could be seen
UNITE THE KINGDOM: People take part in the Tommy Robinson-led rally on Saturday
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Crowds gather in Parliament Square with Union Jack and England flags
UNITE THE KINGDOM: There are expected to be speeches delivered at the Unite the Kingdom protest in London
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Around 4,000 officers are expected to be on duty on Saturday, with 660 being drafted in from forces outside the Met
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Supporters of Tommy Robinson take a selfie as they take part in a march
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters drape England and Union Jack flags on the Westminster Underground sign
MP Diane Abbott told those gathered at a pro-Palestine march that they are ‘paving the way for a new kind of politics’.
Speaking at a rally in Pall Mall, she said: ‘The people who have organised these demos, stewarded them, and above all, the people who have gone on these demos, have helped to change British politics by opposing genocide.
‘You have exposed the character of the forces that dominate our politics, and you are paving a way for a new kind of politics, day after day, year after year.’
The former Labour MP added that those gathered face a ‘common enemy’ in the ‘far right’.
She said: ‘They are viciously right-wing, viciously racist, they are anti-black, anti-Muslim, and viciously antisemitic.
‘We have to come together… to fight the racists, to fight the fascists, to fight the antisemites.
‘But we will come together, we will support each other. We are going to move forward and ultimately we will triumph.’
Ahead of the demos, the Government blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Sir Keir as ‘far-right agitators’ from entering the UK.
Right-wing figures claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
For the first time under official protest restrictions, organisers of the rallies will face prosecution as well as any speakers who break the law by using the events as a platform for extremism or hate speech.
Offences of stirring up hatred under the Public Order Act carry a jail term of up to seven years.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said: ‘This is not about restricting free speech. It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public, particularly at a time of heightened tensions.’
Live facial recognition are being used for the first time in a protest policing operation, with cameras set up in an area of Camden that is not on the route of the Unite the Kingdom march, but is expected to be used by a lot of people attending the event.
The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Professor William Webster said police forces could find themselves taken to court over their use of the technology, saying it is not ‘foolproof’.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the scale of the operation is ‘unprecedented in recent years’ and will cost the force £4.5million – £1.7million of which is to bring in officers from other forces to boost numbers.
Mr Harman said: ‘We are policing two significant and potentially challenging protests in the centre of London, as well as the FA Cup final, which is taking place in Wembley on the same day.
‘We’re doing this at a time of continued global instability and tension, which we know has the potential to fuel tension and play out on the streets of London, the terrorism threat level has been raised to severe, and in recent weeks and months, we have seen a terrorist attack.’
UNITE THE KINGDOM: right-wing firebrand activist Tommy Robinson gives a speech at the rally
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox gives a speech at the rally
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Protesters let off red flares as they walk down London’s West End
NAKBA DAY: There was a sea of Palestinian flags as protesters marched through the capital
NAKBA DAY: Pro-Palestine supporters condemned Tommy Robinson and Unite the Kingdom protesters
NAKBA DAY: Pro-Palestine protesters rallied against Unite the Kingdom on a tense day in London
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Police are using live facial recognition cameras today – one of the vans is pictured outside King’s Cross
NAKBA DAY: Placards for ‘Stand Up To Racism’ are displayed ready for use ahead of the 78th Nakba Anniversary March
NAKBA DAY: Placards with the slogan ‘Freedom For Palestine’ are displayed ahead of the Nakba Day march
Downing Street said law-abiding protesters would continue to be protected, but warned that anyone attempting to ‘break the law and create chaos’ should expect to ‘feel the full force of the law’.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Federation said many officers have had leave cancelled and rest days withdrawn to meet policing requirements, adding: ‘There are not enough of us.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. But anyone spreading hate or committing acts of violence will face the full force of the law.’
