This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwydezxl0xlo

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Thousands gather in London for Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally, and counter protest More than 100,000 join Tommy Robinson rally, as counter-protesters demonstrate
(about 1 hour 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 gathered in Whitehall where they heard a series of speeches including from tech billionaire Elon Musk, via videolink. Protesters forming the "Unite the Kingdom" rally gathered on Whitehall where they heard a series of speeches, including from tech billionaire Elon Musk, via videolink.
The Metropolitan Police said nine people had been arrested for various offences and added there had been "significant aggression", with some officers being "attacked with projectiles" . While the first half of the day was largely peaceful, the Metropolitan Police later said officers were facing "unacceptable violence", with bottles, flares and other projectiles being thrown at them. Nine people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, the Met estimates about 5,000 people have joined the nearby counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR). Meanwhile, about 5,000 people joined a nearby counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).
Some 1,000 Met Police officers have been deployed, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two groups. Some 1,000 Met officers were deployed ahead of the protest, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two protest 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. And 500 extra officers from forces including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall were also present.
The Met Police deployed extra officers with protective equipment as well as police horses in central LondonThe Met Police deployed extra officers with protective equipment as well as police horses in central London
Just after 15:00 BST, the two demonstrations were divided on Whitehall by a line of police officers. Just after mid-afternoon, the two demonstrations were divided on Whitehall by a line of police officers.
One side waved placards saying "refugees welcome. Stop the far right", and the other Unite the Kingdom group flew Union and St George's flags.One side waved placards saying "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 groups apart. However, the Met said some officers had been attacked while trying to keep the 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-protestThe Met Police estimated around 110,000 were in Whitehall for the Tommy Robinson event and 5,000 for the counter-protest
Extra riot police could be seen rushing through the crowd of Stand Up To Racism supporters to back up the horses and officers holding lines between the two protest groups. Extra riot police could be seen rushing through the crowd of Stand Up To Racism supporters to back up the horses and officers holding lines between the two groups.
Some officers could be seen taking out batons at about 16:25 as they tried to push back Robinson supporters who had gathered near Trafalgar Square. Projectiles were thrown at officers from Unite the Kingdom protesters who had gathered near Trafalgar Square.
Projectiles - including glass bottles, metal poles and beer cans - have been thrown at police officers from Unite the Kingdom protesters. "When officers moved in to stop them they faced unacceptable violence," the Met said in a statement.
"They were assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown."
At one point, a glass bottle appeared to smash against a horse, causing the animal and rider to stagger backwards.
Scuffles broke out as police used batons to try and push back thousands of Robinson supporters gathered on the top of Whitehall and Trafalgar Square.
Earlier, huge crowds massed near Waterloo Station with people wearing and waving union flags and the St George crossEarlier, huge crowds massed near Waterloo Station with people wearing and waving union flags and the St George cross
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowds on Whitehall, criticising politicians for "parroting" his ideas.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowds on Whitehall, criticising politicians for "parroting" his ideas.
He also claimed UK courts had decided the rights of undocumented migrants superseded those of the "local community".He also claimed UK courts had decided 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.Last month, the Court of Appeal overturned 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. Making a surprise appearance via videolink, Musk called for a "change of government" in the UK.
Musk made a surprise appearance via videolink, calling for a "change of government".
"You can't - we don't have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it's too long," Musk told the crowd. "Something's got to be done. There's got to be a dissolution of Parliament and a new vote held.""You can't - we don't have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it's too long," Musk told the crowd. "Something's got to be done. There's got to be a dissolution of Parliament and a new vote held."
At the Stand Up To Racism rally, independent MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators they were there to stand together. TV presenter Katie Hopkins also spoke after earlier appearing alongside Robinson, Lawrence Fox and Ant Middleton at the front of the march.
"We know racism and violence and fascism is not new," she said. "But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence." 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."
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.
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".
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.
Robinson was released from prison earlier this year after being jailed in October for ignoring an order not to repeat false claims about a Syrian refugee, who had successfully sued him for libel.Robinson was released from prison earlier this year after being jailed in October for ignoring an order not to repeat false claims about a Syrian refugee, who had successfully sued him for libel.