Large-scale demonstrations in London: 4,000 police mobilized for the Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestinian one
Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on Saturday for two rival large-scale protests: the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and the pro-Palestinian Nakba Day march.
Large-scale demonstrations take place in London on Saturday PHOTO EPA-EFE
London's Metropolitan Police has mobilized around 4,000 officers to manage the demonstrations, in a £4.5m operation which will see the use of drones, helicopters, horses and dogs, while armored vehicles have been readied for rapid response.
The situation is also complicated by the fact that on the same day the FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium, an event that attracts tens of thousands of supporters to the capital.
“Sterile Zones” between demonstrators
In order to avoid possible incidents, the authorities have imposed strict restrictions on the routes and times of the demonstrations. The police even created a “sterile zone” between the two marches so that the participants did not come into direct contact.
The “Unite the Kingdom” march started in the Kingsway area and is heading towards Parliament Square, while the pro-Palestinian Nakba Day protest starts in Kensington and crosses central London to Waterloo Place.
The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to any act of violence, hate speech or breaches of public order.
Facial recognition will be used for the first time
For the first time in the UK, police are using live facial recognition technology in a demonstration surveillance operation. The cameras were installed in particular at Euston and King's Cross St Pancras stations, important arrival points for participants in the demonstration organized by Tommy Robinson.
According to authorities, two men have already been arrested near Euston station after the system identified them as suspects in a case of grievous bodily harm in Birmingham.
In parallel, police are monitoring CCTV footage from Wembley to identify any supporters who may be heading towards protests after the FA Cup final.
Who is Tommy Robinson?
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is one of the most controversial figures of the British far-right. A former football hooligan, he has built a strong online platform in recent years, promoting anti-Islam and anti-immigration messages.
Robinson urged his participants not to wear masks and not to consume alcohol in excess, as well as to behave “peacefully and politely”.
“The system has put all sorts of obstacles in the way of our efforts to unite the Kingdom and the West”he wrote this week on X, predicting “the greatest patriotic demonstration that will ever take place on this planet”.
Environmentalist activist Greta Thunberg, accused of disturbing public order following a demonstration in London
Its popularity has grown amid discontent in British society over illegal immigration, small boat crossings of the English Channel and allegations of restrictions on free speech.
At a similar protest last September, Robinson drew up to 150,000 people to central London. The event was marked by radical messages and confrontations with the police in which several officers were injured.
For Saturday's demonstration, police estimate the participation of around 50,000 Robinson supporters, while around 30,000 people are expected at the pro-Palestinian march.
British government: “We are fighting for the soul of this country”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent a strong message ahead of the protests, accusing the organizers of the “Unite the Kingdom” march of promoting “hate and division”.
“We are in a battle for the soul of this country,” said Starmer, warning that anyone trying to “cause mayhem on the streets or intimidate people” would face “the full force of the law”.
The British government also announced that 11 far-right agitators from abroad had been stopped at the border and refused entry to the UK to take part in the demonstration. Among them is the American anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez.
Tensions around pro-Palestinian protests
The Nakba Day demonstration takes place in an extremely tense climate in the UK, following months of pro-Palestinian protests organized following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
The British Jewish community and several organizations have frequently accused these demonstrations of anti-Semitic slogans and placards. In recent weeks, London has also been rocked by several violent attacks targeting members of the Jewish community.
Against this backdrop, the UK's terror alert level was recently raised to 'severe', the second highest possible level, with authorities citing both Islamist and right-wing extremism threats.
New directives issued by the Crown Prosecution Service allow prosecutors to investigate including slogans, placards and messages shared on social media for possible hate crimes.
Police warned that arrests could also be made for chants considered extremist, such as the use of the term “intifada” in certain contexts.
London on high alert
Saturday's security operation is considered one of the largest carried out by the Metropolitan Police in recent years. Officials fear both spontaneous clashes between rival groups and the risk of hate-motivated incidents.
“The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood. “But anyone who spreads hatred or resorts to violence will face the consequences of the law.”
