Police arrested 43 people during two rival protests in London on Saturday, including a far-right rally led by Tommy Robinson and a pro-Palestinian march. The Metropolitan Police said 20 arrests were made at the ‘unite the kingdom’ (UTK) rally, with nine for alleged hate crimes. Twelve people were detained at the pro-Palestinian march, including two for hate crimes, while 11 arrests were not linked to either event.
The UTK rally, organised by Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), drew an estimated 60,000 attendees, far fewer than the million organisers had hoped for and less than half the 150,000 who attended a similar march in September 2024. Robinson denied the event was far-right, describing it as a “cultural movement” and emphasising Christian themes, including reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Anti-racism campaigner Nick Lowles suggested the religious focus may have deterred some supporters, and noted that Elon Musk, who heavily promoted the previous march, did not do so this time.
Among the UTK arrests, several involved alleged hateful insults directed at officers. One minority-ethnic officer was reportedly told to “fuck off back home”, two were subjected to homophobic abuse, and another was told “take your religion and fuck off”. Two individuals already in custody allegedly used the N-word against officers. Three people were arrested for holding placards with slogans including “fuck Islam” and “Christ is king, fuck Islam”. A woman was detained for possessing a sword approximately one metre long.
At the pro-Palestinian march, one person was arrested for a sign reading “Globalise the intifada”, which police allege is a call for violence against Jews. Another was arrested for a sign supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action, and a third for a sign reading “We will not surrender, victory or martyrdom”. Police are reviewing seven videos of slogans and chants for potential anti-Jewish hate speech.
Police said both events passed without significant incidents, with five officers allegedly assaulted but none requiring hospital treatment. The FA Cup final at Wembley, held on the same day, saw 22 arrests. The Met estimated the pro-Palestinian march attracted 15,000 to 20,000 people, while organisers claimed 250,000.
