Thousands join Tommy Robinson march in London

1000’s of supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson have crammed Trafalgar Sq. in central London after a march.

He claimed the occasion was the “greatest patriotic rally” the UK had ever seen.

A counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism and former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Undertaking additionally happened in London.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned a significant operation was in place to “preserve the peace” between the 2 protests, amid fears of significant disruption.

A Trans Satisfaction occasion was additionally held within the capital.

Amid a sea of England and Union Jack flags, Tommy Robinson’s supporters listened to speeches attacking immigration and selling “patriotism”.

He obtained a loud cheer in Trafalgar Sq. when he requested the gang what number of of them had voted for Reform on the normal election.

He revealed he had requested Nigel Farage to talk on the protest, however mentioned the Reform chief had advised him he “could not make it”.

On the anti-racist counter-protest close by, Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech, and demonstrators held placards studying “no to racism, no to hatred” and chanted “we can’t be silent”.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned 5 arrests had been made:

• Two males have been arrested on suspicion of “GBH-level [grievous bodily harm] assault” after a participant within the Stand Up To Racism demonstration was assaulted in Victoria Embankment Gardens, the Met mentioned. The sufferer sustained a head harm and was given first assist by officers

• A member of the general public was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at Trans Satisfaction, and one other man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency employee and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked

• One man was arrested on suspicion of prison harm and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive comment.

The Met Police has not mentioned whether or not the 5 arrested individuals have been contributors in any of Saturday’s protests.

Forward of the marches, police barricaded Whitehall and cellular items have been parked in facet streets round Westminster.

One thousand officers have been on obligation and Scotland Yard used powers underneath the Public Order Act to put strict circumstances on the timing and placement of each protests. The Met mentioned officers would stay on obligation after the marches had completed.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who’s in control of the weekend’s operation, mentioned police would “intervene decisively” to take care of protesters who broke the circumstances.

He mentioned: “Our first precedence is to maintain the peace to make sure that these exercising their proper to lawful protest can achieve this safely.”

Tommy Robinson, whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces contempt proceedings on the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday after being accused of constant to speak on-line a couple of libel case he misplaced in 2021.