Counter-Protests and Confrontations
The rally faced opposition from around 5,000 anti-racism campaigners. A stage was set up for speeches from far-right figures, including an interview between Tommy Robinson and Musk, who echoed the event’s theme by stating that the “destruction of Britain” is due to “massive uncontrolled migration.”
As Robinson’s supporters attempted to access Whitehall, police intervened, resulting in confrontations. A police spokesperson stated: “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.”
Police Response and Ongoing Aggression
So far, nine individuals have been arrested for various offences, with police identifying more participants who committed offences. The spokesperson added, “We will find them and they will face police action, even if it is not possible to do so today.” Officers continued to face aggression, particularly at the north of Whitehall, as they worked to create safe exit routes for those attending the Stand Up To Racism protest.
Escalating Tensions
At one point, projectiles were thrown from Robinson’s supporters towards counter-demonstrators, leading to a tense standoff on Whitehall. Police mounted units faced the crowd as a glass bottle reportedly struck a horse, causing it and its rider to stagger.
Police employed batons to manage the large crowd of Robinson supporters gathered around Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. The rally included speeches from Robinson, Laurence Fox, Katie Hopkins, and musical performances, alongside far-right European politicians such as Eric Zemmour and Morten Messerschmidt.
Police Deployment and Public Order
Strict conditions under the Public Order Act were imposed on the protests, with the anti-racism event concluding at 4pm and the Unite the Kingdom event ending at 6pm. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that over 1,600 officers would be deployed across London, including 500 from other forces, coinciding with five Premier League football matches scheduled for the day.
