London: A far-right march led by activist Tommy Robinson drew more than 110,000 people to central London on Saturday, escalating into clashes that left 26 police officers injured and prompted at least 25 arrests.
The “Unite the Kingdom” rally, billed as a free speech demonstration, saw violence erupt when a small group of Robinson supporters confronted officers tasked with separating them from counterprotesters. Several officers were punched, kicked, and struck by bottles, prompting reinforcements with helmets and riot shields to join the 1,000-plus police personnel already on duty.
Among the injured, four officers suffered serious injuries, including broken teeth, concussions, a possible broken nose, and a spinal injury. Arrests were made for offenses including violent disorder, assaults, and criminal damage. “There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence,” said Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist.
The rally attracted an estimated 110,000–150,000 participants, far exceeding expectations, while the rival “March Against Fascism,” organised by Stand Up to Racism, drew around 5,000 protesters.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a prominent figure in Britain’s far-right circles and founder of the nationalist, anti-Islam English Defence League. He has a history of legal issues, including prior jail time for assault, mortgage fraud, and contempt of court.
Speakers at the rally largely focused on migration, echoing fears about cultural and demographic change across Europe. Far-right French politician Eric Zemmour claimed, “You and we are being colonised by our former colonies,” while tech mogul Elon Musk, appearing via video link, condemned what he called the UK government’s mismanagement of migration. Robinson himself told the crowd that migrants now have more legal rights than the British public.
The demonstrations come amid intense debate over migrants crossing the English Channel in inflatable boats. The summer has seen a series of anti-migrant protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, some of which turned violent.
Participants in the “Unite the Kingdom” march carried St George’s flags and Union Jacks, chanting slogans such as “we want our country back” and “stop the boats.” Counterprotesters responded with placards reading “refugees welcome” and “smash the far right,” and chanted “stand up, fight back.”
The rally route stretched from Big Ben across the River Thames to Waterloo station, roughly three-quarters of a mile. While much of the event remained peaceful, tensions escalated in the late afternoon, with Robinson supporters throwing objects at the rival march and attempting to breach barriers. Police used force to maintain crowd control, and footage showed counterprotesters heckling an injured man being escorted by officers.
Though significant, Saturday’s rally was smaller than some recent London demonstrations, such as a pro-Palestinian march in November 2023, which drew approximately 300,000 people.
