25 people arrested and 26 officers hurt – as up to 150,000 people join ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march in London
25 people arrested and 26 officers hurt – as up to 150,000 people join ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march in London.
Elon Musk, a tech mogul, appeared via video link to address the crowds gathered in central London for Tommy Robinson’s demonstration.
The UK’s trade secretary has told Sky News that those who attacked and injured police officers during a march organised by far-right leader Tommy Robinson “should and will pay a price” for their actions.
MP Peter Kyle condemned the appalling behaviour at Saturday’s “Unite the Kingdom” event in London, which drew up to 150,000 people.
During an appearance on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Kyle stated that the large turnout demonstrated that free expression is “alive and well” in the UK.
He replied, “It doesn’t bother me because it demonstrates that we live in a democracy where free speech and free association are alive and strong.
“The bit that disturbs me is that when a minority go to an extreme and end up perpetrating violence against the police – that is unacceptable and those people should and will pay a price for it.”
Protesters heard a number of speeches, including one from Robinson, who dubbed it the “biggest freedom of speech” in British history.
Police reported that between 110,000 and 150,000 people attended the event, substantially exceeding the planners’ projections. An anti-racism counter-protest, attended by approximately 5,000 campaigners, also occurred, with the two groups clashing on Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, separated by police lines.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist stated that officers were subjected to “significant aggression” from “Unite the Kingdom” attendees.
“The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable,” he told them. “Twenty-six officers were injured, including four seriously – among them broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury.” People have been arrested for a variety of crimes, including affray, violent disorder, assault, and criminal damage.
Ms Mahmood stated on X: “The right to peaceful protest is important to our country. I want to applaud the police for their efforts to keep today’s rally relatively calm. But I condemn those who have assaulted and harmed police officers.
“Anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.”
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Police stated the Robinson mob was too large to fit into Whitehall, and a fight erupted when officers attempted to prevent them from encircling counter-protesters and entering the area via several routes.
A spokeswoman stated, “When officers intervened to halt them, they were met with inappropriate aggression. They were attacked with kicks and blows.
Bottles, flares, and other missiles were launched.” Officers continued to meet violence in a variety of locations, particularly to the north of Whitehall, as they tried to construct a safe exit route for individuals who had participated in the Stand Up to Racism protest.
Robinson supporters flung objects at counter-demonstrators as thousands of people from both sides clashed on Whitehall, according to police. A row of police horses stood opposite a crowd flying Union flags, and at one point, a glass bottle appeared to strike one of the horses, knocking both the animal and its rider backward.
Musk makes a surprise appearance Robinson live-streamed the rally on X, which peaked at 2.9 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
Elon Musk, a tech entrepreneur, made a surprise appearance via video link, calling for a “change of government” in the UK. “You can’t – we don’t have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it’s too long,” Musk told the cheering throng. “Something needs to be done.
There must be a dissolution of parliament and a new vote. Katie Hopkins, a TV presenter, also spoke after joining Robinson, Lawrence Fox, and Ant Middleton at the front of the march.
‘Revolution has started – you can’t stop it’
During his remarks, Robinson, whose voice was raspy from shouting, assured the gathering that “millions” had attended the protest.
“The dam has well and truly burst,” he told me. “The secret has been revealed, and it cannot be kept hidden. The quiet majority will be silent no more.” Robinson told Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government: “The revolution has begun, and you cannot stop it.”
Referring to a Court of Appeal judgement to remove an injunction barring asylum seekers from staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, Robinson claimed UK courts ruled that the rights of undocumented migrants trumped those of the “local community”.
According to him: “They told the world that Somalians, Afghanis, Pakistanis, all of them, their rights supersede yours – the British public, the people that built this nation.”
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