Protesters clash with police at Tommy Robinson’s 110,000-strong far-right rally in London
Some demonstrators displayed images of Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist and Trump ally who was killed in Utah this week
Clashes erupted on Saturday as more than 100,000 people turned out in central London for a rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with police arresting nine people after facing “unacceptable violence” trying to control the crowds.
The huge crowds, many draped in English and British flags, gathered from late morning in and around Westminster for what Robinson, a veteran of UK far-right organising, branded the country’s “biggest free speech festival”.
Around 5,000 people turned out at a Stand Up to Racism march starting around 1.6km (a mile) to the north, with London’s Metropolitan police deploying about 1,000 police to keep the rival groups apart.
The Met, which estimated 110,000 people attended the far-right rally, said the clashes erupted after some were unable to access the main stage area and tried to enter so-called “sterile areas” near counter-demonstrators.
Police trying to prevent protesters veering from the route faced “unacceptable violence,” the force said, describing officers being kicked and punched and facing hurled bottles, flares and other projectiles. The police said 26 officers were injured, including four seriously.
Arrests totalled 25, which the force said was “just the start”.