London witnessed two major protests on Saturday, with tens of thousands taking part in a far-right march led by Tommy Robinson and a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally. The Metropolitan Police reported 31 arrests across both events by 4.30pm, citing offences including grievous bodily harm and encouraging attacks on police officers.
The far-right Unite the Kingdom march drew an estimated 60,000 attendees, according to police figures, a significant drop from the 150,000 who attended a similar protest in September. In contrast, organisers of the pro-Palestine rally claimed at least 250,000 participants, describing it as “10 times bigger” than the far-right demonstration. Police estimated up to 20,000 for the pro-Palestinian march.
Among those arrested was a man at Euston station suspected of grievous bodily harm linked to an incident in Birmingham where a man was run over by a van after flags were removed from lamp-posts. Another man was held on suspicion of encouraging attacks on a police officer. The victim in Birmingham, a man in his 30s, suffered a broken leg requiring surgery and remains in hospital.
Nick Tenconi, former head of Nigel Farage's Ukip party, was spotted at the far-right march. He has previously called for the military to “round up and deport the Islamists, illegals and the communists”. Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, claiming a UK entry ban by Keir Starmer, appeared via video link, vowing to return.
The Nakba protest concluded peacefully, with Parliament Square and Whitehall cleared by evening. Weyman Bennett of Stand Up To Racism said Tommy Robinson “failed” in his attempt to silence solidarity with Palestine. Campaign group Led By Donkeys displayed a giant screen with the slogan “Immigration makes Britain brilliant”. Deputy PM David Lammy condemned the far-right march as “spreading hatred and division”.
