26 Cops Injured, 25 Arrested as Over 1 Lakh Join Anti-Migrant Rally in London
A massive far-right demonstration in central London, led by activist Tommy Robinson, descended into violence on Saturday, resulting in injuries to 26 police officers and the arrest of 25 people . The clashes erupted when a segment of the estimated 110,000 to 150,000 protesters tried to breach police lines to confront a rival counter-demonstration .
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers were punched, kicked, and had bottles thrown at them, forcing the deployment of reinforcements in riot gear to contain the violence . Four officers sustained serious injuries, including a concussion, a suspected broken nose, broken teeth, and a spinal injury . Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist condemned the aggression, stating that while many protested peacefully, “there were many who came intent on violence… confronting officers with abuse and making determined efforts to breach cordons” . Over 1,600 officers were deployed to manage the protests across the capital .
The “Unite the Kingdom” march, framed by organizers as a rally for free speech, was dominated by anti-immigration rhetoric and drew one of the largest right-wing crowds in the UK in recent memory . Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, hailed the turnout as a “tidal wave of patriotism” and a “cultural revolution” . The event garnered support from prominent far-right figures across Europe, as well as a video address from billionaire Elon Musk, who claimed Britons were “scared to exercise their free speech” .
A counter-protest organized by the group “Stand Up to Racism” drew approximately 5,000 participants, who argued that the main rally was spreading hate and division . Ben Hetchin, a teacher at the counter-demonstration, stated, “The idea of hate is dividing us, and the more we welcome people, the stronger we are as a country” . Despite the large turnout for Robinson’s rally, the mainstream right-wing party Reform UK distanced itself from the event, citing Robinson’s multiple criminal convictions and history as the leader of the anti-Islam English Defence League .
