Heavy police presence in London for protests and Champions League final | UK News

Greater than 2,000 cops have been on obligation throughout London right now to watch fan occasions forward of the Champions League ultimate at Wembley. They’ve additionally been at a number of protests.

Met Cops have been maintaining a tally of Borussia Dortmund and Actual Madrid supporters forward of the 8pm kick off.

Earlier, there was an illustration led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson at Parliament Sq. – whereas Stand Up To Racism led a counter-protest on Whitehall.

Robinson – actual identify Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – mentioned he was protesting towards alleged “two-tier policing”, whereas Stand Up To Racism mentioned it was campaigning towards what it deemed to be “racism and Islamophobia”.

Scotland Yard mentioned it had recognized people within the crowd at Robinson’s protest who “have a historical past of being concerned in violent dysfunction”.

In an replace on X on Saturday afternoon, the power added: “A quantity have soccer banning orders and are related to hooligan teams from London and throughout the UK.

“There’s additionally a component of the gang beforehand well-known for involvement in anti-lockdown protests through the pandemic and related dysfunction.

“Plenty of folks within the crowd are intoxicated.”

In a later replace, the Met mentioned it had made two arrests “within the neighborhood of Parliament Sq.”.

It added: “One arrest was for drunk and disorderly and assaulting an emergency employee.

“The opposite pertains to an incident the place a girl was subjected to racial abuse. We await affirmation of the precise offence.”

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The Met additionally mentioned quite a lot of folks at a smaller protest in Waterloo had been arrested after making an attempt to dam visitors. Youth Demand protesters have been demonstrating towards Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza.

Scotland Yard mentioned its officers’ presence would proceed into the night, when Europe’s greatest membership competitors reaches its conclusion.

T/Commander Louise Puddefoot, who’s main this weekend’s policing operation, mentioned: “We wish followers visiting London for this unbelievable occasion to have a protected and pleasing expertise.

“There will likely be a visual police and stewarding presence not simply round Wembley however at fan zones and different occasions.

“Anybody who sees something suspicious or who has issues about security or safety ought to converse to an officer or a member of the stewarding staff.”