Photo credit: the Tribune
Twenty-six officers have been injured while policing a protest organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The BBC reports that the protest saw up to 150,000 people marching through central London.
Tensions flared at the “Unite the Kingdom” rally. Some protesters threw bottles and other objects at police, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk spoke to protesters on Whitehall via video link, while 5,000 people joined a nearby counter-protest organized by “Stand Up To Racism.”
The police said 25 people had been arrested for various offences in what it described as “wholly unacceptable” violence.
A huge policing operation was put in place in central London with the Met deploying 1,000 officers and drafting in an extra 500 from other forces. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said officers had “policed without fear or favour”, knowing it would be challenging. He said officers had suffered from broken teeth, concussion, a prolapsed disc, a head injury and a possible broken nose.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud said, “Anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.”
The Unite the Kingdom protest had “exceeded the estimate of the organizers”, according to the police, which meant there was not enough space for them all in Whitehall and Parliament Square.
Scuffles broke out as police used batons to try and push back Robinson’s supporters gathered on the top of Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowds at the “freedom of speech festival” where he criticized politicians for “parroting “his ideas.
He also claimed UK courts had decided the rights of undocumented migrants superseded those of the “local community”.
Through a video link, Musk spoke about “massive uncontrolled migration” and called for “a change of government” in the UK.
At the Stand Up To Racism rally, Independent MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators: “We know racism and violence, and fascism is not new.
“But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence.”
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