Some 5,000 counter-protestors have taken to the streets against the Unite the Kingdom march which has attracted 110,000 people
Protestors have gathered in their thousands to counter Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march in Central London. The counter event hosted by Stand Up to Racism has made its way from Russell Square towards Whitehall where both sides are currently facing off.
The Metropolitan Police has put in place a “sterile area” between both sides to limit violent clashes, but videos from the scene show objects being hurled at counter-protestors as tempers flare. Due to to this, the force confirmed multiple Unite the Kingdom marchers have been arrested.
Earlier this afternoon Finsbury Park resident Lucy told MyLondon she firmly believes asylum seekers are welcome in the UK. “As a white woman I should be the person here more than anybody,” she said.
“Love will always win and hate devours you from the inside. These people are welcome and fascists and far-right thugs are not.
“The far-right does not represent the country at all and anybody with a minor understanding of history will understand colonialism. You can’t bomb all of these countries and not expect people to flee.”
Finsbury Park resident Lucy believes the Unite the Kingdom marchers do not represent Britain(Image: MyLondon)
Mexican tourist Paula told MyLondon she felt compelled to attend the counter-protest while visiting the city. “I think Tommy Robinson’s popularity is terrible for the UK at the moment.
“Everyone here is from all backgrounds and eager to fight against the far-right.” The Metropolitan Police said it estimated around 110,000 were in Whitehall for the Robinson event and 5,000 for the counter protest.
Multiple police officers have reportedly been assaulted during the clashes. A spokesperson added: “We continue to see significant aggression directed at officers by Unite the Kingdom protesters.
“We have deployed additional officers with protective equipment in multiple locations, supported by police horses, to deal with the disorder.”
A line of police horses faced the sea of Union flags and at one point a glass bottle appeared to smash against a horse, causing the horse and rider to stagger backwards. Police took out their batons at around 4.25pm as they continued to try and push back thousands of Robinson supporters gathered on the top of Whitehall and Trafalgar Square.
Police officers have been attacked by members of the Unite the Kingdom march(Image: Met Police)
Beer cans were thrown and an officer was seen trying to stamp out a flare in the metres-wide gap between the two protest groups on Whitehall.
Despite these outbreaks of violence, many attendees of the Unite the Kingdom have criticised claims of it being a far-right event. Welsh nurse Cassie Hedges, 64, told MyLondon this morning: “It’s not far right. I’m not far right; I’m in the middle and quite liberal in some ways. It’s becoming a totalitarian country.”
“I teach my grandchildren how to debate and be kind to each other. What happened to Charlie Kirk is awful. It’s about listening to other people.”
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