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Thousands gather for Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally, and counter protest Thousands gather for Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally, and counter protest
(32 minutes later)
Aerial video shows scale of ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protestAerial video shows scale of ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest
More than 100,000 people have joined a march in central London organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners also taking place.More than 100,000 people have joined a march in central London organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners also taking place.
Protesters forming the "Unite the Kingdom" rally have gathered in Whitehall where they are hearing a series of speeches from people including Donald Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon.Protesters forming the "Unite the Kingdom" rally have gathered in Whitehall where they are hearing a series of speeches from people including Donald Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon.
The Metropolitan Police said some officers had been "attacked with projectiles" and had had to use force to avoid a cordon being breached.The Metropolitan Police said some officers had been "attacked with projectiles" and had had to use force to avoid a cordon being breached.
Meanwhile, the Met estimates about 5,000 people have joined a nearby counter-protest, dubbed March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).Meanwhile, the Met estimates about 5,000 people have joined a nearby counter-protest, dubbed March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).
Around 1,000 Met Police officers have been deployed in London, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two groups.Around 1,000 Met Police officers have been deployed in London, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two groups.
The Met said it had borrowed 500 officers from other forces for the day, with police vans from Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall.The Met said it had borrowed 500 officers from other forces for the day, with police vans from Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall.
Huge crowds massed near Waterloo Station with people wearing and waving union flags and the St George cross
Just after 15:00 BST, the two separate demonstrations were divided in Whitehall by a line of police officers.Just after 15:00 BST, the two separate demonstrations were divided in Whitehall by a line of police officers.
One side waved placards that said "refugees welcome. Stop the far right" and the other Unite the Kingdom group flew Union and St George's flags.One side waved placards that said "refugees welcome. Stop the far right" and the other Unite the Kingdom group flew Union and St George's flags.
The Met said some officers had been attacked while trying to keep the two groups apart.The Met said some officers had been attacked while trying to keep the two groups apart.
"Officers are having to intervene in multiple locations to stop Unite the Kingdom protesters trying to access sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing groups," the Met said on X."Officers are having to intervene in multiple locations to stop Unite the Kingdom protesters trying to access sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing groups," the Met said on X.
"A number of officers have been assaulted.""A number of officers have been assaulted."
The Met Police estimated around 110,000 were in Whitehall for the Tommy Robinson event and 5,000 for the counter-protest
Huge crowds massed near Waterloo Station with people wearing and waving union flags and the St George cross At a stage on Whitehall, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowds, criticising politicians for "parroting" his ideas.
At a stage set up on Whitehall, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowds who had gathered. He also claimed UK courts had decided the rights of undocumented migrants superseded those of the "local community".
He claimed that UK courts had found that the rights of undocumented migrants superseded those of the "local community". Last month, the Court of Appeal overturned an injunction blocking asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
Robinson was referring to a Court of Appeal decision to overturn an injunction blocking asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. TV presenter Katie Hopkins also spoke after earlier appearing alongside Robinson, Lawrence Fox and Ant Middleton at the front of the march.
TV presenter Katie Hopkins also spoke on the stage after earlier appearing alongside Robinson, Lawrence Fox and Ant Middleton at the front of the march. At the Stand Up To Racism rally, independent MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators they were there to stand together.
At the other Stand Up To Racism rally, speeches were expected by MPs Diane Abbott and MP Zarah Sultana. "We know racism and violence and fascism is not new," she said. "But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence."
Ahead of the march, the Met confirmed it would not be using live facial recognition - which captures people's faces in real-time CCTV cameras - in its policing of the Unite the Kingdom march.Ahead of the march, the Met confirmed it would not be using live facial recognition - which captures people's faces in real-time CCTV cameras - in its policing of the Unite the Kingdom march.
It also said there were "particular concerns" among some in London's Muslim communities ahead of Robinson's protest, citing a "record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches".It also said there were "particular concerns" among some in London's Muslim communities ahead of Robinson's protest, citing a "record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches".
Counter protesters were also set to march through central London, ending up near Robinson's demonstrationCounter protesters were also set to march through central London, ending up near Robinson's demonstration
Cdr Clair Haynes urged Muslim Londoners not to change their plans or avoid central London, but to approach a police officer should they feel concerned while out in public.Cdr Clair Haynes urged Muslim Londoners not to change their plans or avoid central London, but to approach a police officer should they feel concerned while out in public.
She said: "Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime."She said: "Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime."
She added that police would act "without fear or favour" and asked demonstrators to "be considerate of the communities they are passing through".She added that police would act "without fear or favour" and asked demonstrators to "be considerate of the communities they are passing through".
The Met said that it had ordered the Unite the Kingdom rally to end by 18:00 and the counter-protest to end by 16:00, in line with when the organisers told the force they expected speeches to end.The Met said that it had ordered the Unite the Kingdom rally to end by 18:00 and the counter-protest to end by 16:00, in line with when the organisers told the force they expected speeches to end.