London: Clashes with police erupted during a massive rally in central London, where around 110,000 people gathered for an anti-immigration protest led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The event, which took place near Westminster, prompted a substantial police deployment and a counter-protest by anti-racism groups.
According to Deutsche Welle, the London police described the rally as being "too big to fit into Whitehall," a street located in London's government district. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist stated, "There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence." He noted that participants confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse while attempting to breach cordons set up to maintain safety.
The rally underscored the growing anti-immigration sentiment in the UK, as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage gains popularity in polls, and protesters target hotels housing asylum seekers. Tommy Robinson, who is 42 and whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, praised the event as the country's "biggest free speech festival" and a movement to "Unite the Kingdom." Attendees, many of whom carried English and British flags, marched over Westminster Bridge and assembled near Downing Street to listen to speeches from far-right figures from Europe and North America.
Participants expressed their anger over immigration and what they saw as restrictions on free speech. Yaxley-Lennon addressed the crowd, declaring that "the silent majority will be silent no longer," and described the gathering as the "spark of a cultural revolution." Placards at the rally included slogans like "stop the boats," alongside photos of US conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, who was recently shot dead.
The Metropolitan Police estimated the turnout at approximately 110,000, using CCTV and helicopter footage for verification. About 1,000 officers were deployed, and specific conditions were imposed on routes and timing to keep the far-right rally separate from a nearby Stand Up to Racism march, which attracted around 5,000 participants. Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott spoke at the counter-protest, criticizing Yaxley-Lennon's message as "dangerous" and calling for solidarity with asylum-seekers.
The far-right rally featured various speakers, including US billionaire Elon Musk, who addressed the crowd via video link, calling for a change of government in Britain. Other prominent figures announced for the day included French nationalist Eric Zemmour, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, and Petr Bystron of Germany's AfD party. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was also expected to address the crowd remotely.
This demonstration occurred just over a year after anti-immigration riots broke out in several UK cities. It also followed recent government actions to ban the Palestine Action group and arrest peaceful protesters, controversies that have sparked broader debates over free speech. Yaxley-Lennon, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October 2024 for contempt of court, was released in May this year after his sentence was reduced. His conviction was related to a previous case where a Syrian refugee successfully sued him for libel in 2021 over false claims of violence.
