Officers have begun making arrests as around 80,000 protesters descend on London for two major rival demonstrations – amid an ‘unprecedented’ £4.5million police operation.
Scotland Yard has deployed 4,000 officers to tackle the Unite the Kingdom rally, led by far-Right 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 are being deployed alongside thousands of officers as the Met aims to avoid clashes between the two groups.
Also today, Chelsea and Manchester City are facing off in the FA Cup final at Wembley, leaving police fearing some football fans could spill 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 braces for one of the most significant policing operations in years.
Thousands of Unite the Kingdom protesters, waving Union Jack and St George’s flags, began lining the streets as early as 9am and demonstrated late into the afternoon.
It did not take long before police started making arrests with footage showing 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 the individual was arrested on suspicion of GBH in relation to an incident in Stirchley, Birmingham, 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.
Officers were also seen chasing after and arresting pro-Palestine protesters shortly after the march began in South Kensington.
As of 1pm, the Met said 11 people have been arrested across both protests ‘for a variety of offences’.
Police estimate some 50,000 people will attend the Unite the Kingdom rally, which will end at Parliament Square, with a further 30,000 expected to join the annual pro-Palestine ‘Nakba Day’ rally which finishes at Waterloo Place.
The previous Unite the Kingdom protest in September was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people.
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.’
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Some 4,000 officers have been deployed to control the protests taking place in London today
UNITE THE KINGDOM: Footage appeared to show several Met Police officers arresting a man, believed to be Raise the Colours leader Ryan Bridge, outside Euston Station
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
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.’
Former soldier Ant Middleton addressed the crowd and said: “I am currently taking my son to the summit of Mount Everest. We produce young leaders. Once I am back.. my duty is to serve.
“I will come back and rattle London until it wakes up. The next mayor and general election are the most important in our lives. Let’s take back our country and our capital.”
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 far-right 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 far-right.
‘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: 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’
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
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: Far-Right 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: 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.’
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