Dozens of Ukip supporters gathered in west London before marching towards Marble Arch on Saturday
Four counter-protestors have been arrested during a march organised by the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) in central London.
Around 75 Ukip demonstrators gathered in front of the London Oratory, a catholic church in Kensington, west London, on Saturday, before marching towards Marble Arch.
The demonstrators called for “mass deportations”, with some carrying wooden crosses while others held up a banner reading: “Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain.”
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A counter-protest in Whitechapel, east London, led by the Stand Up to Racism group was attended by roughly 200 people, organisers said.
Ukip, the political party formerly led by Nigel Farage, had originally planned on marching through the Whitechapel, a predominantly Muslim area.
But police imposed Public Order Act conditions banning them from attending the neighbourhood and a large portion of east London.
Ukip supporters marching in Knightsbridge, west London (Photo: Sam Hall/PA Wire)
Addressing the crowd, Ukip leader Nick Tenconi said: “We want the illegals gone, we want the communists gone”.
The counter-protest was also banned from areas in central London where the Ukip demonstration was taking place.
The Met Police said there was a “prospect of disorder” if the two marches met “at a time when tensions and fears in relation to hate crime”.
By around 4pm, the force released a statement saying the protests were both drawing to a close.
Posting on X, the Met Police said: “Four counter protesters who appeared along the route in breach of the conditions in place and refused to leave have been arrested.”
Tenconi addresses the rally at Marble Arch in central London (Photo: Lucy North/PA Wire)
One other counter protestor was “removed” from the central London protest area later that afternoon, the force said.
Days before the protest, the Ukip Instagram account shared a post saying: “Reclaim London from the Islamists!
“Do you want your country back? Then march with us and take it back.”
Videos of the counter-protest shared on social media showed demonstrators chanting “refugees are welcome here”.
Palestine flags were being flown and signs saying: “Stamp out Islamophobia” and “Stop the hate”.
Counter-protesters marching through London, England, against the Ukip demonstration (Photo: Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made a speech said right wing figures were unfairly blaming poverty, low government spending and housing on migrants.
“They say this is all caused by refugees and migrants that have made their homes in our society,” he said. “It’s complete nonsense and they know it.”
He added: “Our message is, for Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, jog on, jog off, get lost.”
Commander Nick John, who is in charge of public order policing in London over weekend, said officers sought to ensure the protests took “place peacefully, that offences are dealt with, that they do not cause excessive disruption to the ordinary lives of local residents, visitors and businesses”.
The Met Police said public order policing had concluded at 6pm on Saturday.