Tommy Robinson supporters “kicked and punched” cops throughout one in all Britain’s largest ever Proper-wing rallies, the Met Police has claimed.
Greater than 100,000 individuals descended on central London for the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration on Saturday.
9 arrests had been made and Scotland Yard stated extra had been anticipated.
The power stated that officers “confronted unacceptable violence” from protesters and “had been assaulted with kicks and punches” and “bottles, flares and different projectiles” had been additionally thrown.
A spokesman stated on X: “9 arrests have been made up to now for varied offences, however many extra individuals have been recognized as committing offences. We’ll discover them and they’ll face police motion, even when it isn’t attainable to take action right now.”
Most of the protesters gathered on Whitehall, the place they heard a collection of speeches from Robinson, who organised the protest, in addition to Katie Hopkins, Laurence Fox, and Elon Musk, by way of videolink.
Elon Musk instructed protesters there was an ‘growing erosion of Britain’
The streets of the capital had been full of Union, St George’s, Welsh and Scottish flags, whereas slogans on their flags included “Cease the Boats”, “Ship them Dwelling” and “Unite the Kingdom”.
Protesters additionally held up indicators in tribute to Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist who was fatally shot earlier this week whereas talking at an occasion at Utah Valley College.
Robinson’s supporters claimed that three million individuals had joined the protest, which might have made it the biggest protest in British historical past, however the Met put the determine at round 110,000.
Some 1,000 cops had been deployed.
Talking to the group from a stage on Whitehall, Robinson claimed that politicians are actually “parroting” what he has been saying for 15 years.
He instructed protesters: “Politicians impulsively are discovering braveness and so they’re parroting the issues that we’ve got stated for 15 years. They slaughtered us, they demonised us, they attacked us and so they imprisoned us.”
He added: “After we energise, after we captivate, after we electrify these 20 million individuals. That’s after we regain energy of our nation”.
Mr Musk, whose face appeared on a big display, stated: “I feel there’s one thing lovely about being British and what I see occurring here’s a destruction of Britain, initially a gradual erosion however quickly growing erosion of Britain with huge uncontrolled migration.
“A failure by the federal government to guard harmless individuals together with youngsters who’re getting gang-raped. It’s unreal the federal government has failed in its responsibility to guard its residents which is a basic responsibility of presidency.”
He added: “There’s a lot violence on the left, with our good friend Charlie Kirk getting murdered in chilly blood this week and folks on the left celebrating it brazenly.
“The left is the social gathering of homicide and celebrating homicide. I imply, let that sink in for a minute, that’s who we’re coping with right here.”
In the meantime, the Met estimated that round 5,000 individuals joined a close-by counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).
At one level, the group had been simply metres away from Tommy Robinson supporters and the 2 teams stared every down whereas separated by a line of cops.
Projectiles, together with a visitors cone, bottles and items of wooden, had been thrown throughout the divide and pictures confirmed a number of protesters with bloodied faces.
There have been additionally stories of a police horse being struck by a glass bottle and an officer was seen making an attempt to stamp out a flare within the hole between the 2 protest teams.
A number of males had been seen being detained by police.
One man shouted “that is what England has turn into” as he was handcuffed together with his head pressed towards the highway on the entrance of the group of Tommy Robinson supporters.
Officers rushed him to the aspect of Whitehall the place he was detained after which walked, bent-double, to a police van.
Unbiased MP Diane Abbott instructed a crowd of anti-fascist protesters that Tommy Robinson’s allies “are a number of the most anti-women forces in society”.
She stated: “They’re making an attempt to pull ladies into their undertaking, they’re claiming that they’re defending ladies, however they’re a number of the most anti-women forces in society – they oppose equal pay, they oppose motion towards discrimination, they belittle sexual harassment as banter.
“So we’re right here to face collectively, we’re right here to struggle, and we’re right here within the certainty that we are going to defeat the fascists.”
The march reveals “fascists can not stroll the streets of London unopposed”, she instructed the group from the stage on Whitehall.
“We all know racism and violence and fascism is just not new”, she stated, including: “However you understand what? We’ve got all the time defeated that racism and violence.”
That’s all for right now
Thanks for following our dwell protection of the “Unite the Kingdom” protest in central London.
Right here’s a abstract of the important thing moments:
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The Metropolitan Police estimated that the variety of individuals on the rally was round 110,000, whereas Tommy Robinson’s supporters claimed the determine was nearer to 3 million.
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The streets of the capital had been full of Union Jacks, St George’s, Welsh and Scottish flags, whereas logans on their flags included “Cease the Boats”, “Ship them Dwelling” and “Unite the Kingdom”.
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In the meantime, the Met estimated that round 5,000 individuals joined a close-by counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism.
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The power stated that officers had been attacked by projectiles and had been kicked and punched by protesters.
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Police stated that 9 individuals had been arrested and lots of extra are probably after cops had been confronted with “unacceptable violence”.
Watch: Antifa members at counter-protest
‘That is what England has turn into’
One man shouted “that is what England has turn into” as he was handcuffed together with his head pressed towards the highway on the entrance of the group of Tommy Robinson supporters.
Officers rushed him to the aspect of Whitehall the place he was detained after which walked, bent-double, to a police van.
Additional scuffles broke out between police and Tommy Robinson supporters as they moved the group out of Whitehall.
Objects together with a visitors cone, bottles and items of wooden had been thrown on the line of officers as they began to push the group again in direction of Trafalgar Sq. and Northumberland Avenue at round 5.25pm.
Musk calls Left ‘social gathering of homicide’
Mr Musk instructed the protest rally: “There’s a lot violence on the left, with our good friend Charlie Kirk getting murdered in chilly blood this week and folks on the left celebrating it brazenly.
“The left is the social gathering of homicide and celebrating homicide. I imply, let that sink in for a minute, that’s who we’re coping with right here.”
Elon Musk seems by way of videolink on the protest
Musk speaks to protesters by way of videolink
Elon Musk, talking by videolink to the Tommy Robinson protest, stated: “I feel there’s one thing lovely about being British and what I see occurring here’s a destruction of Britain, initially a gradual erosion however quickly growing erosion of Britain with huge uncontrolled migration.
“A failure by the federal government to guard harmless individuals together with youngsters who’re getting gang-raped. It’s unreal the federal government has failed in its responsibility to guard its residents which is a basic responsibility of presidency.”
9 arrests and extra anticipated, says Met
9 individuals have been arrested and lots of extra are probably after cops had been confronted with “unacceptable violence” at right now’s protest, the Metropolitan Police has stated.
In a press release, the power stated: “The turnout for the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest was too large to suit into Whitehall. Protesters left the route onto Victoria Embankment and sought to entry Whitehall from a number of instructions as proven on the map beneath.
“When officers moved in to cease them they confronted unacceptable violence. They had been assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and different projectiles had been thrown.
“9 arrests have been made up to now for varied offences, however many extra individuals have been recognized as committing offences. We’ll discover them and they’ll face police motion, even when it isn’t attainable to take action right now.
“Officers are persevering with to face aggression in a number of places, particularly on the north of Whitehall as they work to create a secure exit route for individuals who have been collaborating within the Stand Up To Racism protest.”
A map launched by the Met Police exhibiting the place dysfunction has taken place – Met Police
International politicians communicate to crowd
French politician Éric Zemmour, who got here in fourth place within the first spherical of the 2022 French presidential election, instructed the crowds that the “freedom of our peoples is at risk”.
Talking in French which was translated for the viewers, he stated: “We’re each topic to the identical technique of the nice substitute of our European individuals by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim tradition, you and we’re being colonised by our former colonies.”
Morten Messerschmidt, chief of the Danish Individuals’s Get together, additionally addressed the rally and stated: “Individuals like us right here right now, fearful about crime, immigration and the way forward for their nation, (are) now branded as criminals for daring to talk out.”
He added: “Wanting secure streets and safe borders doesn’t make us villains, it makes us patriots, loving your nation and defending your group is just not against the law, it’s a responsibility.”
Petr Bystron, who represents the Various for Germany (AfD) social gathering within the Bundestag, instructed the rally: “Your enemies are our enemies, your struggle is our struggle.
“We don’t need our daughters, our sisters, getting raped. We don’t need our brothers, our associates, getting stabbed when they’re defending them.”
Tommy Robinson supporters have converged in central London for the rally – London Information Photos Ltd
Watch: Protesters chant ‘get them out’
Credit score: Oscar Jaeger
‘Police horse struck by glass bottle’
The Metropolitan Police stated there was “vital aggression” aimed toward officers by “Unite the Kingdom” protesters, including that it has deployed additional officers with protecting tools and police horses to cope with the dysfunction.
As a line of police horses confronted the group of Tommy Robinson supporters, a glass bottle appeared to smash towards one in all them, inflicting the horse and its rider to stagger backwards, based on the PA information company.
Drinks cans have additionally been thrown by Robinson protesters in direction of counter demonstrators, with solely metres between the 2 crowds. An officer was additionally seen making an attempt to stamp out a flare within the hole between the 2 protest teams on Whitehall.
A Stand As much as Racism speaker reiterated from the stage that stewards had been working to discover a secure route for protesters to exit Whitehall, as Robinson supporters had congregated on every adjoining highway.
Law enforcement officials separate the 2 crowds of protesters – REUTERS
Man detained as police ship in reinforcements
Metropolitan Law enforcement officials have detained a person close to to Scotland Yard’s headquarters.
The person, who was sporting a black blazer and had a Union flag wrapped round his waist, was escorted by a number of officers away from Whitehall Gardens on Victoria Embankment and down Horse Guards Avenue.
Further riot police rushed by the group of Stand as much as Racism supporters to again up the horses and officers holding the road between the 2 protest teams on Whitehall.
Missiles had been thrown and Tommy Robinson supporters had been seen clashing with police shortly after 4pm.
A younger man with blood pouring down his face was faraway from the group of Robinson supporters at Trafalgar Sq. by police.
He was escorted by helmet-clad officers by a crowd of of Stand As much as Racism protesters, a few of which shouted “w—er” as he walked previous holding his head.
Heavy rain however protest goes on
Heavy rain has compelled many to depart or take shelter the place they will.
Whereas a lot have left or are on their manner out, the group remains to be very large.
There may be loads of garbage – significantly cans and bottles of beer – littered on Parliament Road.
A person with a wounded eye and blood-stained shirt turns away from police with riot shields – George Cracknell Wright
‘Robinson supporters are anti-women,’ says Diane Abbott
Unbiased MP Diane Abbott has instructed a crowd of anti-fascist protesters that Tommy Robinson’s allies “are a number of the most anti-women forces in society”.
She stated: “They’re making an attempt to pull ladies into their undertaking, they’re claiming that they’re defending ladies, however they’re a number of the most anti-women forces in society – they oppose equal pay, they oppose motion towards discrimination, they belittle sexual harassment as banter.
“So we’re right here to face collectively, we’re right here to struggle, and we’re right here within the certainty that we are going to defeat the fascists.”
The march reveals “fascists can not stroll the streets of London unopposed”, she instructed the group from the stage on Whitehall.
“We all know racism and violence and fascism is just not new”, she stated, including: “However you understand what? We’ve got all the time defeated that racism and violence.”
Tommy Robinson takes to the stage
Tommy Robinson, chatting with the group from a stage on Whitehall, has claimed politicians are actually “parroting” what he has been saying for 15 years.
He instructed protesters: “Politicians impulsively are discovering braveness and so they’re parroting the issues that we’ve got stated for 15 years. They slaughtered us, they demonised us, they attacked us and so they imprisoned us.”
The far-Proper activist stated Sir Keir Starmer “slithered” into Authorities with 9 million votes.
He stated his personal supporters had not voted and wanted to mobilise.
“After we energise, after we captivate, after we electrify these 20 million individuals. That’s after we regain energy of our nation,” he stated.
Tommy Robinson surrounded by protesters at right now’s rally – AFP
Watch: Police conflict with protesters
The Met Police has posted footage exhibiting dozens of male protesters confronting cops.
The power stated on X: “Officers are having to intervene in a number of places to cease Unite the Kingdom protesters making an attempt to entry sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing teams.
“A lot of officers have been assaulted.”
Hopkins: ‘You higher love our flag’
Talking on a stage on Whitehall, Katie Hopkins instructed the protesters that they’ll “get freedoms again for our youngsters and grandchildren”.
She stated: “I don’t care what faith you’re, simply don’t try to take your faith and shove it down the faces of my youngsters or my individuals…
“In the case of race and color, we don’t care what color you’re, we don’t care the place you come from, however if you wish to come to this high-quality nation, you higher come right here, you higher work laborious, you higher slot in, you higher love our flag as a result of in case you don’t need to slot in, then you possibly can f— off.”
Protesters show the St George’s flag on the Boadicea and Her Daughters statue on Victoria Embankment – Joanna Chan
Stare down as two protest teams meet
Counter-protesters had been simply metres away from Tommy Robinson supporters and the 2 teams stared every down whereas separated by a line of cops.
The Robinson protesters, who had been behind police carrying riot shields, waved Union flags and a metres-wide St George’s flag that stated “cease the boats”. They may very well be seen shouting on the line of officers and in direction of the anti-fascist crowd.
The anti-fascist protesters, gathered on Whitehall, shouted “fascist scum” and “whose streets, our streets” and carried placards that stated “refugees welcome. Cease the far-Proper”.
Protesters assault police, says Met
Tommy Robinson protesters have attacked cops, the Metropolitan Police stated.
It stated on X: “A crowd of ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protesters tried to enter the sterile space on Whitehall that’s [in] place to maintain the 2 protests aside.
“Officers had been attacked with projectiles and have had to make use of power to keep away from their cordon being breached.”
Law enforcement officials heckled by protesters
A lot of police who’ve walked in from Bridge Road had been greeted with boos by many protesters.
Police are additionally being referred to as “scum” and being instructed to “f— off” as one other convoy of them march again out in direction of Bridge Road.
A lot of flares have been additionally lit.
Law enforcement officials deal with a person to the bottom on the protest – Christopher Furlong
‘Let’s hold issues secure and civil,’ urges Robinson
Tommy Robinson urged his followers to stay calm due to frustration from protesters not capable of get shut sufficient to the stage and listen to the speeches being made.
He stated on X: “We perceive peoples frustrations at not with the ability to get close to the stage or the PA system.
“We’re asking all of you, everybody who’s understandably pissed off, to please stay calm and peaceable.
“Let’s hold issues secure and civil.”
A protester dressed as an English Knight – London Information Photos Ltd
Haka carried out on stage
A protester, who has climbed up on to a visitors mild submit, stated: “I’ve obtained one of the best view.”
In the meantime, up on the Whitehall stage, a standard Haka dance is being carried out by a gaggle of bare-chested members of the Future Church in New Zealand.
A few of the crowd left earlier as a result of rain, however that has now ceased and the protest is bathed in Autumnal sunshine.
Counter protesters arrive on Whitehall
Hundreds of anti-fascist protesters have arrived on Whitehall shouting “our streets” and “the individuals united won’t ever be defeated”.
They turned the nook into the road shortly earlier than 2.30pm and walked in direction of a stage the place audio system will quickly deal with the crowds.
St George’s and Union flags may very well be seen on the opposite finish of Whitehall the place Tommy Robinson’s rally is being held, with the 2 demonstrations divided by a big police presence together with vans.
‘Our nation issues,’ says Laurence Fox
Laurence Fox stated he was praying for Charlie Kirk and stated a “sword” must be taken to individuals shutting down free speech.
”Our nation issues. That is our house, we’ve got nowhere else to go,” the actor-turned-politician shouted.
‘Oh Tommy Tommy’ chants fills streets of London
Hundreds of protesters have descended on Whitehall for right now’s protest organised by Tommy Robinson.
Draped in Union Jack, English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish flags, protesters sang “We would like Starmer out” whereas additionally chanting for the rally organiser Robinson.
They sang: “Oh Tommy, Tommy. Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Robinson.”
There may be loads of recognition for the late Charlie Kirk, with variety of posters saying: “RIP Charlie Kirk” and “Relaxation in Paradise Charlie Kirk”.
Police from all around the UK are right here, with quite a few divisional vans from Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police in attendance.
Credit score: Gezim Hilaj
Protesters run for canopy as rain falls
Some individuals attending the “Unite the Kingdom” protest ran for canopy below timber in Parliament Sq. as heavy rain briefly started falling in Westminster.
Nonetheless, a big majority of the group, some with Union jack umbrellas, remained in entrance of the rally stage on Whitehall.
The downpour additionally didn’t dampen the spirits of Stand As much as Racism protesters as they marched alongside on the Strand, nearing Whitehall.
Rain-soaked protesters, led by a gaggle of ladies in hi-vis who had linked arms, shouted: “Let in each refugee, throw the Nazis within the sea.”
“Inform me what group seems to be like, that is what group seems to be like”, they chanted.
Round 110,000 at rally, says Met
The Metropolitan Police estimated that the variety of individuals on the “Unite the Kingdom” rally was round 110,000.
It put the quantity on the counter “Stand Up To Racism” demonstration at round 5,000.
A power spokesman stated estimates had been troublesome however that it used CCTV and police helicopter footage to calculate the figures.
And so they conceded that there could be variations between their estimates and that of the organisers.
Credit score: Gezim Hilaj
Charlie Kirk remembered at protest
Protesters are holding up pictures of Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist who was fatally shot earlier this week whereas talking at an occasion at Utah Valley College.
Protesters maintain an image of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk – REUTERS
‘We’re making historical past,’ claims Robinson
Counter-protest march begins
A whole bunch of Stand As much as Racism protesters have began to march in direction of Whitehall from Russell Sq..
The gang chanted “get up struggle again” and “we’re the ladies, we gained’t be silenced, cease the fascists now, now, now, now”.
Scotland Yard stated there had been “no incidents of word” because the Stand Up To Racism march set off.
The power has confirmed it isn’t utilizing dwell facial recognition in its policing of the demonstration.
It stated: “We’re utilizing a cell CCTV van to assist monitor the construct up of crowds. Officers have been requested if it’s utilizing ‘dwell facial recognition’ – we will verify it isn’t.”
The dwell facial recognition expertise – which captures individuals’s faces in real-time CCTV cameras – was used within the policing operation on the Notting Hill Carnival.
Pictured: Fox, Hopkins and Robinson
Laurence Fox and Katie Hopkins have joined Tommy Robinson on the protest, linking arm-in-arm as they led protesters by the streets of central London.
Laurence Fox (left), Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson arm-in-arm on the protest – Ben Montgomery
Ant Middleton and Katie Hopkins to hitch
TV star Ant Middleton, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson and presenter Katie Hopkins are all set to talk on the occasion.
It has been described by Robinson as “the UK’s largest free speech competition”.
Hundreds have taken to the streets in London, with a counter-protest being held close by – Man Bell/Alamy
Counter-protest takes place
Robinson claimed on X simply earlier than 1pm that he was “listening to police estimate 3 million patriots on the streets”. The Metropolitan Police stated it might not be offering a crowd estimate.
A livestream of the occasion on Robinson’s X account was being watched by greater than 300,000 individuals by noon.
In the meantime, a counter-protest, dubbed March Towards Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), can be as a consequence of happen.
The march shall be led by lots of of ladies, SUTR stated, together with unbiased MP Diane Abbott.
Hundreds collect for rally
Hundreds of individuals have gathered in London for a rally organised by the anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson.
The “Unite the Kingdom” occasion comes after the deadly capturing of American conservative Charlie Kirk in Utah earlier this week.
Enormous crowds brandishing Union flags have massed close to Waterloo Station and are anticipated to progress in direction of the southern finish of Whitehall.
Individuals may very well be seen displaying quite a lot of messages on flags and placards on London’s Southbank on the protest assembly level.
Others waved England flags with the phrases “cease the boats”, “Charlie Kirk RIP” and “sufficient is sufficient, save our kids”.
Robinson, whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has referred to as on attendees of the rally to not put on masks, drink alcohol or be violent.
Credit score: Reuters
