London protests: Police block protesters
Severe overcrowding at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom protest led to violent clashes in central London, leaving 26 police officers injured – four seriously – and at least 25 demonstrators arrested, the Metropolitan Police said. The protest, which police said drew between 110,000 and 150,000 supporters – although Mr Robinson himself claimed “millions” had attended – spilled out of Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, overwhelming cordons designed to prevent the rally from surrounding a counter-demonstration.
Officers said that when they tried to stop Robinson supporters from circling anti-racism campaigners and entering the area from multiple routes, violence erupted. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said police had faced a “wholly unacceptable” level of aggression. Injuries to officers included broken teeth, a suspected broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc, and a head wound.
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Protesters clashed with police on Saturday (Image: George Cracknell Wright)
He said: “Many came to protest lawfully, but others arrived intent on violence. They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making determined efforts to breach cordons.”
The Met confirmed that those arrested face charges including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage, and warned that more arrests are expected as investigations continue.
The event began largely peacefully, with speeches from Mr Robinson and appearances by far-right figures from across Europe.
But by mid-afternoon, the atmosphere deteriorated as thousands of his supporters clashed with police lines, hurling projectiles towards counter-protesters. At one point, a glass bottle struck a police horse, causing both horse and rider to stagger.
Police detain a protester during the Unite The Kingdom rally (Image: Getty Images)
Mounted units and baton-wielding officers were deployed as scuffles spread across Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. Later in the day, more than a hundred helmeted officers and dozens of mounted police forced Robinson supporters back towards Embankment station.
Elsewhere, around 5,000 anti-racism campaigners joined a counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism.
Their demonstration, scheduled to finish at 4pm, dispersed with fewer incidents, although tensions ran high as thousands of rival protesters stared each other down across police barriers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the attacks on police, vowing that those involved in violence would “face the full force of the law”.
Police keeping rival protesters separated (Image: PA)
The Unite the Kingdom rally had a heavy line-up of speakers and performers. Speaking via video link, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk declared that Britain faced “destruction” from “massive uncontrolled migration.”
Former actor Laurence Fox, ex-Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins and television personality Ant Middleton, now running for Mayor of London, spoke in person.
The scale of Mr Robinson’s crowd created persistent safety problems throughout the day. Some protesters diverted towards Victoria Embankment to escape the crush, which police described as “understandable.”
Officers said the excessive numbers, combined with attempts to breach cordons, left them no choice but to use mounted units and force to keep rival groups apart.
Mr Twist praised officers for policing “without fear or favour” and attempting to engage constructively with both protests, despite being met with hostility. He added: “Our post-event investigation has already begun. “Those responsible for violence can expect robust police action in the coming days and weeks.”
The rally had been authorised to continue until 6pm under the Public Order Act, but it significantly overran as Mr Robinson supporters lingered in central London into the evening.
For much of the day, the Union Jack-filled rally maintained a festival-like atmosphere with music and speeches. But as the crowd swelled beyond Whitehall’s capacity, the sheer volume of people transformed the protest into a volatile flashpoint.
By nightfall, the legacy of the day was not the speeches but the sight of baton charges, mounted horses, and rows of police pushing back thousands of chanting Mr Robinson supporters.