Around 4,000 police officers were deployed across London on Saturday as tens of thousands of demonstrators joined two major rallies held simultaneously in the British capital.
Supporters of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, gathered for a “Unite the Kingdom” march in central London, while a separate pro-Palestinian demonstration marked Nakba Day, which commemorates the displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948.
The Metropolitan Police had warned that the capital was facing one of its busiest protest days in recent years. Officers used horses, dogs, drones, helicopters and route restrictions to keep the two demonstrations apart, with large crowds also moving through London for other events, including football supporters travelling to Wembley Stadium.
Police said before the demonstrations that they expected about 50,000 people to attend Robinson’s rally and around 30,000 to join the pro-Palestinian march. Later estimates suggested tens of thousands attended both events, while organisers of the Palestine rally claimed a much higher turnout.
Participants at the “Unite the Kingdom” rally waved Union Jack flags and chanted slogans against immigration and multiculturalism. Robinson’s supporters said British identity and culture were under threat, while critics accused the march of promoting division and anti-Muslim sentiment. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier accused the rally’s organisers of “peddling hate and division.”
On a separate route, pro-Palestinian demonstrators carried flags and placards calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, justice for Palestinian refugees and an end to Israel’s military campaign. The march marked Nakba Day, observed annually by Palestinians and supporters to remember the mass displacement that accompanied the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
The Metropolitan Police said its priority was to prevent clashes, respond to hate crime or violence, and maintain public safety. The force imposed conditions on both marches, including route controls and separation zones, to reduce the risk of confrontation.
Despite the tense atmosphere, the demonstrations passed without major disorder. The Times reported that 43 arrests were made across the day, while police said officers remained in place into the evening to monitor dispersal and prevent flashpoints.
