Tommy Robinson supporters will take to the streets of London today (Picture: EPA)
A Met Police commander has issued a reassurance to London Muslim communities ahead of a planned far-right rally in London today.
One of the large-scale protests in central London today has been organised by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the far-right activist’s ‘free-speech’ rally due to start later this morning.
Crowds are also expected at the counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism.
Tommy Robinson has organised a ‘free speech’ rally in London today (Picture: Lucy North/PA Wire)
The Met Police has brought in hundreds of reinforcements from other forces, with over 1,000 officers deployed in the capital.
The police sought to reassure London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘United Kingdom’ protest given the record of ‘anti-Muslimi rhetoric.’
Here is the route for the Tommy Robinson rally today.
The Tommy Robinson march will start from near Waterloo and finish at Whitehall today (Picture: Metro)
The Tommy Robinson march is set to start at 11am from Stamford Street off the IMAX roundabout south of Waterloo Bridge.
They will then head down along York Road before going down on Westminster Bridge past Big Ben and turn towards the southern end of Whitehall, where the rally will take place.
The rally must wrap up by 6pm and participants must stay in the designated area, the police said.
Thousands of people are also expected to attend the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest (Picture: Lucy North/PA Wire)
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Meanwhile, the Stand Up To Racism counter-demonstration will start from Russell Square, with protesters walking past Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and finishing at the northern end of Whitehall.
The SUTR protest has to conclude by 4pm, the police said.
Commander Clair Haynes said: ‘We recognise that there are particular concerns for many in London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest given the record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches.
‘There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town. That is not our advice. Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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