Far-right protesters rally in London as Tommy Robinson supporters ...
Four people were arrested on Saturday as part of a rally that saw thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters march through central London.
The Metropolitan Police said that five people had been cuffed for a variety of offences including one who was subsequently de-arrested after providing officers with their details.
Demonstrators carried placards reading “Two tier Keir fuelled the riots” as they headed from Victoria station to Parliament Square.
“Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the Boats” signs were also hoisted by demonstrators – some of whom were drinking cans and glasses of alcohol.
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is better known as Tommy Robinson, was unable to attend the rally having been arrested in Kent on Friday.
Supporters were heard chanting, ‘Oh Tommy, Tommy’
AFP via Getty Images
Of those arrested, two were from the far right Uniting The Kingdom movement - which was held in honour of Robinson - one was unaffiliated and another was from the Stand Up To Racism counter protest.
A racist remark was directed at an officer leading to another arrest, this time for a racially aggravated public order offence. The protest affiliation of the suspect hasn’t been confirmed.
Thousands joined the Stand Up to Racism march after being urged to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those to address the crowd.
Around 6pm Robinson supporters started leaving Westminster as the demonstration neared its end.
Some wore “Make Britain Great Again” hats and others carried signs that read “Pensioners before illegal immigrants”.
Interim Ukip leader Nick Tenconi was among the speakers to address them.
In separate action, a few hundred people gathered on the corner of Trafalgar Square for the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) march to Downing Street, to protest over deaths in custody.
Activists held signs reading “No justice”, “no-one forgotten, nothing forgiven” and “no to hatred, no to fascism”, while others carried images of people they say died in custody.
The far right marchers carried Union Flags
Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Robinson, 41, is accused of being in contempt of court after the airing of a film at a protest in Trafalgar Square in July.
He attended Folkestone police station on Friday where he was remanded ahead of a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday concerning allegations that he breached a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him.
It is understood the airing of a film, titled Silenced, at the Trafalgar Square demonstration is one of six actions alleged to have breached the injunction between June and July.
The film is also pinned to the top of his X account.
Robinson was separately charged on Friday with failing to provide his mobile phone access code to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.
