UK deploys 1,000 police officers for London protests

13 Sep 2025 15:45

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UK deploys 1,000 police officers for London protests

Photo: EPA

Thousands of people gathered in central London as far-right activist Tommy Robinson led a march on Saturday, prompting a significant counter-demonstration by anti-racism campaigners.

Some 1,000 officers have been assigned to the demonstrations, the Metropolitan Police said, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two groups, News.Az reports, citing BBC.

"Today London stands tall in defence of one of our most vital rights – free speech," Robinson wrote on X.

The streets were a sea of union jacks, St George's crosses, Scottish saltires and Welsh flags as large crowds of protesters amassed near Waterloo Bridge ahead of the 'Unite the Kingdom' march towards Whitehall.

The Met said it had borrowed 500 officers from other forces for the day, with police vans from Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall.

There were a mix of slogans on the flags including 'Stop the Boats', 'Send them Home' and 'Unite the Kingdom,' and anti-transgender activists are among the crowds.

One man carried a large wooden cross with 'RIP Charlie Kirk' written on it - the right-wing US activist shot dead on Wednesday while speaking at a university.

Elsewhere, around 500 people gathered near Russell Square for the 'March Against Fascism' counter protest organised by Stand up to Racism (SUTR).

Demonstrators held placards reading "Women Against the Far Right," "Oppose Tommy Robinson," and "Refugees Welcome".

The group will also march toward Parliament Square - only a few hundred metres from the Unite the Kingdom rally.

News.Az