London protests: Police arrest 9 in Palestine mob as Tommy Robinson holds counter rally

Thousands of people gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday for a protest organized by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.

The event featured speeches from Robinson himself, Reclaim leader Laurence Fox, and political commentator Carl Benjamin. Approximately 300 counter-protesters, organized by Stand Up To Racism, were positioned on the other side of the Cenotaph, separated by a substantial police cordon.

The protest began at London Victoria Station around 1pm and concluded in Parliament Square, where attendees watched speeches and a film on a large TV screen.

Nine people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police for various offences.

Following this afternoon's counter protests, Tommy Robinson took to X to warn that this is the beginning.

In a Tweet published at 6:11pm, he said: "We are only just getting started."

Crowds at Parliment Square have dispersed.

Police officers still remain on site for any other potential incidents.

Laurence Fox from the Reclaim Party spoke at the protest earlier this afternoon.

He claimed: "This is our country, and we want it back."

This is our country.And we want it back. pic.twitter.com/MjrocuBJZb

— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) June 1, 2024

Police have made another two arrests.

In a Tweet, Met Police said: "Two arrests have been made in the vicinity of Parliament Square.

"One arrest was for drunk and disorderly and assaulting an emergency worker. The other relates to an incident where a woman was subjected to racial abuse.

"We await confirmation of the exact offence."

In a Tweet by the Met Police, they said nine protestors have been arrested.

The Tweet read: "Nine Youth Demand protesters were arrested for breaching Public Order Act conditions not to leave the pavement. The remainder of the group has largely dispersed but officers continue to monitor those still in the area."

In a video on X, an alleged Tommy Robinson supporter could be seen urinating on a public wall.

A resident living in the vicinity of the march said: "The joys of the Tommy Robinson March going past my home … drunk men pissing on peoples garden walls with a children’s playground behind them - proud to be British ….. not"

Tommy Robinson addressed a crowd of supporters that turned up for the march.

In videos circulating social media, the far-right convicted criminal could be heard saying: "This is what London should look like."

Youth Demand protesters went onto York Road, attempting to cause serious disruption by blocking traffic.

Metropolitan Police said: "They were already subject to conditions not to leave the pavement and a number of them have been arrested for breaching those conditions. We’ll confirm how many when we can."

In a Tweet, Metropolitan Police said: "Anyone leaving the protest in Parliament Square is advised to head in the direction of Victoria Station.

"Westminster is closed to inbound passengers and Charing Cross is not accessible as barriers and cordons are in place and will remain there for the foreseeable future."

Video clips show supporters waving flags while singing 'Rule Britannia' and walking at the London protest against two-tier policing.

Video footage has shown huge numbers of police on the streets of the Capital on a day in which no fewer than four demonstrations are taking place.

Known football hooligans subject to banning orders are among those gathered in Parliament Square for the rally organised by Tommy Robinson, police have said.

The Met tweeted: "The protest is now in Parliament Square where speeches are taking place and a film will be shown.

"Officers have identified individuals within the crowd who have a history of being involved in violent disorder. A number have football banning orders and are associated with hooligan groups from London and across the UK.

"There is also an element of the crowd previously well known for involvement in anti-lockdown protests during the pandemic and associated disorder."

The post continued: "While there have not been any offences so far, a number of people in the crowd are intoxicated. The event still has a number of hours left to go.

"Our policing approach is informed by this and other intelligence and is continually reviewed throughout the day."

Police have imposed conditions on Youth Demand protesters, sharing a picture of them gathering

The Met tweeted: "They’re not to enter the borough of Westminster, not to go onto any bridge over the Thames and not to leave the pavement.

"This is to prevent the serious disruption they have said they want to achieve."

There are ongoing concerns about security at this evening's Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.

T/Commander Louise Puddefoote said: “We want fans visiting London for this fantastic event to have a safe and enjoyable experience.

“There will be a visible police and stewarding presence not just around Wembley but at fan zones and other events.

“Anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has concerns about safety or security should speak to an officer or a member of the stewarding team.”

The Metropolitan Police tweeted: "In addition to those meeting at the agreed form up point, officers are aware of a number of groups that have gathered in pubs nearby and elsewhere in central London.

"They include people known to the police for football violence. Officers are closely monitoring these groups."

A few hundred yards away in Whitehall, Mohammed Shafik, deputy president of the Public and Commercial Services Union, was shown addressing the crowd.

Organisers Stand Up To Racism tweeted: "Great to have @mshafiquk bringing solidarity front @pcs_union to the protest against #TommyRobinson in Whitehall."

Tommy Robinson's protest appears to be aimed at the police.

The activist, who was teargassed when being arrested earlier this year, tweeted: "We're sick of two tiered policing and justice system in our country.

We demand the resignation of corrupt met commissioner Mark Rowley."

Another protest is scheduled for the Finchley area, also against the conflict in Gaza.

Recognising the serious disruption and concern that would be caused to many if a protest of this nature was to pass through an area with a significant Jewish population, particularly on the Sabbath, police have “intervened proactively” to impose conditions under the Public Order Act.

If protesters do gather they will be restricted to a static demonstration required to take place at a location away from sites which will cause obvious fear and concern to Jewish residents.

Ms Puddefoot explained: “There is a significant difference between a protest that takes place in central London on a Saturday away from residential areas and a protest that seeks to walk right through an area with a significant Jewish community. It is right that our policing response takes this into account.

“We have been clear since the outset of these protests that context is very important in determining the impact on communities. The right to protest must be respected, but we have a duty to balance that right against the rights of the public to go about their lives without fear or intimidation or being subject to unacceptable disruption.“

Ms Puddefoot added: “Regrettably they have not engaged with us ahead of this event. Protest organisers do have an obligation to inform the police of their intent to hold a protest, allowing us to plan accordingly, but Youth Demand are one of those groups who don’t engage.

“If they did, we would reiterate to them that we will of course respect their right to protest, but not to cause serious disruption.

“Officers will be deployed to respond to any action taken. They will use all the relevant powers available to them, including the imposition of conditions.”

Meanwhile Youth Demand, the organisers of one of the protests, expected to take place in central London this afternoon, have threatened to take direct action in protest against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They have said in public statements that they intend to occupy roads and bridges.

Ms Puddefoot said: “This group has made no secret of their intentions. They have indicated that they will go beyond what can be considered lawful protest, instead trying to cause serious disruption to communities by blocking roads and the bridges that are essential for keeping traffic moving across London.

“We have seen in previous protests that when bridges are blocked, the impact on not just ordinary people but also ambulances and other emergency vehicles can be significant."

Ms Puddefoot said: “Officers have been in discussion with the organisers of both protests in recent weeks. Our priority is to ensure those exercising their right to lawful protest, both in the main march and as part of the counter protest, can do so safely.

“Officers will police these demonstrations, as they always do, without fear or favour – keeping participants and the wider public safe and responding decisively to criminal offences and any attempt to cause serious disruption.

“While we are grateful to the main organiser of the protest for comments he has made publicly discouraging violence on Saturday, we do have concerns about the number of those believed to be attending who have links to football disorder.”

She continued: “When these groups have come together at previous protests we have regrettably seen violence directed at officers. This precedent unavoidably plays a part in shaping the policing approach, including the number and nature of resources allocated to police this particular protest.

“We also understand why the concern goes beyond the potential for officers to be targeted. For some in London, in particular our Muslim communities, comments made by those associated with this event will also cause fear and uncertainty. All Londoners have a right to feel and be safe in their city and we will take a zero tolerance approach to any racially or religiously motivated hate crime we become aware of.”

Laurence Fox was among those who joined Tommy Robinson as he started his march from London Victoria, clutching a microphone.

Fox unsuccessful ran for London mayor in 2020, and has courted controversy on numerous occasions in recent years.

Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act requiring all those taking part to form up in an agreed area, to follow a pre-agreed route and to remain in Parliament Square for the subsequent assembly. The conditions are in place to prevent “serious disruption or serious disorder”.

Stand Up To Racism’s counter-protest will take place in Whitehall from midday. Conditions have likewise been imposed on that protest requiring those taking part to remain in the allocated area in Whitehall which is the section opposite Downing Street, adjacent to Richmond Terrace. Police have published several maps showing the areas in which the demonstrations will take place.

Officers will be deployed “in significant numbers” to ensure those in Parliament Square and those in Whitehall do not come together.

Londoners have been warned to brace for a day of widespread disruption with four separate protests, including two organised by pro-Palestine groups and a counter-demonstration by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.

With the Champions League Final, between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid scheduled to kick off at 8pm, more than 2,000 officers will be on duty, including more than 400 from police forces outside London.

The Tommy Robinson march got underway at 12 noon, with the controversial 41-year-old sharing clips via X in which he was shown walking alongside actor and former London mayoral candidate Laurence Fox.

Central London will see separate rallies organised by Stand Up to Racism and Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who was the co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL).