The Met Police has shared footage of clashes breaking out between officers and protesters on Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” march as an estimated 110,000 people take part.
The footage shared on X shows officers with riot shields pushing demonstrators back as they tried to enter a “sterile area” which had been created to keep protesters and counter-protesters apart.
Officers were attacked with projectiles and have had to use force to avoid their cordon being breached, the Met said.
The force said it had faced “unacceptable violence” with offenders throwing bottles and flares at officers.
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Nine arrests have been made so far for various offences, Scotland Yard said.
The Met Police said roughly 110,000 are on the march and the number of counter-protesters at a Stand Up To Racism counter-rally is around 5,000.
Around 1,000 officers have been deployed to police the demonstrations. Hundreds of reinforcement officers from across the UK were called in to support a huge policing operation across the capital.
Robinson’s march saw demonstrators arrive in Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge at 11.30am before beginning their march towards the southern end of Whitehall.
Robinson has joined the crowd, flanked by Katie Hopkins, Ant Middleton and Laurence Fox.
Counter protesters gathered in Russell Square before their march via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally.
Scroll down for the latest updates.
Live updates
11 minutes ago
‘The left are the party of murder’ claims Elon Musk
Elon Musk appeared via video at Tommy Robinson’s rally in the centre of London this afternoon and told the crowd “the left are the party of murder”.
He said that there was something “beautiful” about being British and said “the left is the party of murder” referencing the death of Charlie Kirk.
The owner of X said: “There’s so much violence on the left, with our friend Charlie Kirk getting murdered in cold blood this week and people on the left celebrating it openly.
“The left is the party of murder and celebrating murder. I mean, let that sink in for a minute, that’s who we’re dealing with here.”
He said that the British public are “scared to exercise their free speech” and claimed the BBC was “complicit in the destruction of Britain”.
16 minutes ago
Elon Musk speaks via video link to protesters
Elon Musk has just been speaking to protesters gathered in central London via a video link.
Addressing the crowd at the demonstration organised by Tommy Robinson, Musk said: “I think there’s something beautiful about being British and what I see happening here is a destruction of Britain, initially a slow erosion but rapidly increasing erosion of Britain with massive uncontrolled migration.
“A failure by the government to protect innocent people including children who are getting gang-raped.
“It’s unreal the government has failed in its duty to protect its citizens which is a fundamental duty of government.”
The world’s richest man and Tesla founder continued: “There’s this genuine risk of rape and murder and the destruction of the country and the dissolution of the entire way of life.
“If you weren’t under a massive attack then people should go about their business and live their lives but unfortunately if the fight comes to you, you don’t have a choice.”
23 minutes ago
Nine arrests at protest so far, Met Police say
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “The turnout for the “Unite the Kingdom” protest was too big to fit into Whitehall.
“Protesters left the route onto Victoria Embankment and sought to access Whitehall from multiple directions as shown on the map below.
“When officers moved in to stop them they faced unacceptable violence. They were assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown.
“Nine arrests have been made so far for various offences, but many more people have been identified as committing offences. We will find them and they will face police action, even if it is not possible to do so today.
“Officers are continuing to face aggression in multiple locations, in particular at the north of Whitehall as they work to create a safe exit route for those who have been taking part in the Stand Up To Racism protest.”
26 minutes ago
Tensions rise at Unite the Kingdom rally
Tensions have risen at Tommy Robinson’s Unite The Kingdom rally as protesters angrily confronted scores of police kitted out in riot gear at Whitehall.
Counter demonstrators, some waving Palestine flags, have appeared on Parliament Street, forcing police to push back the main protest towards Trafalgar Square.
Several protesters with Union Jacks draped over their shoulders in Whitehall were shouting and pointing at police officers, asking “Why are you here?” rather than policing the counter protest in Parliament Street
Trafalgar Square remains largely peaceful, with some demonstrators, many of them women and older participants, sitting by the fountain.
Others have mounted Nelson’s Column, swilling beer while waving Union Jack and England flags.
A speaker is playing Italian singer Gala’s song Freed From Desire, which revellers on the column are chanting and dancing along to.
Many protesters have sheltered from the rain in nearby pubs and were seen packing away their flags and banners before entering.
39 minutes ago
Police help a man who has suffered a head wound near Whitehall
Police have been seen tending a man with blood pouring from a head wound at the top of Whitehall as tensions rise at the protest.
Photographs from the PA news agency captured the incident near where Whitehall meets Trafalgar Square.
Blood was also seen on the floor nearby.
A person with blood pouring from a head wound is attended to by police at the top of Whitehall where it meets Trafalgar Square in central London
PA
43 minutes ago
Recap: Met Police shares footage of officers clashing with protesters
Earlier this afternoon, the Met Police shared footage of officers clashing with protesters.
In one clip officers can be seen holding riot shields and forming a line to keep the demonstrators out of a “sterile area” between protest groups.
In another clip officers can be seen forming a line and pushing protesters back near a police van.
You can watch the footage back in the clip below.
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57 minutes ago
Police officers facing ‘significant aggression,’ Scotland Yard says
The Met Police has said it is seeing “significant aggression” from Unite the Kingdom protesters towards its officers.
Officers in protective equipment and police horses have been deployed to help deal with the disorder, the force explained.
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1 hour ago
Latest pictures capture scale of protests
Pictures taken by photographers at the protest have captured the scale of the demonstration, as the rally heats up.
The Met Police has warned that officers were assaulted as they stopped Unite the Kingdom demonstrators from accessing ‘sterile areas’ between protesters and counter-protesters.
A supporter of the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally on Whitehall in central London
Lucy North/PA Wire
People hold a banner in memory of Charlie Kirk during the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march
Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire
People taking part in a Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally in central London
Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire
1 hour ago
‘We should be looking after our own country’ protester tells the Standard
Several protesters have spoken to the Standard about why they came into central London today.
London tour guide Magnus Neilson was among the protesters who gathered in central London on Saturday.
He said: “The reason I’m here is to support Tommy Robinson, and to let him know that really, there are plenty of other people up and down the country who support what he’s doing and the only way to do that is to come out.”
Mr Neilson baulked at suggestions Tommy Robinson is far right. He said: “Far right? What is that? Far right is anybody who doesn’t support the Labour Party. It doesn’t tell you what people actually believe.”
Magnus Neilson was among the protesters who gathered in central London
The Standard
Another protester, who did not wish to be named, came from Hampshire with his Union Jack banner.
He said a desire for “unity for the country” brought him to the demonstration.
He said: “There is a need for the country to come together. There is a lack of political understanding of what the country needs.
“I think we should all come together to express the feeling that we should be looking after our own country.”
1 hour ago
Man detained near Scotland Yard
Metropolitan Police officers have detained a man near Scotland Yard’s headquarters.
The man, who was wearing a black blazer and had a Union flag wrapped around his waist, was escorted by several officers away from Whitehall Gardens on Victoria Embankment and down Horse Guards Avenue.
Credit: www.standard.co.uk
