UK police ‘attacked with projectiles’: Charlie Kirk’s death sparks London’s biggest far-right rally in decades

“Officers are having to intervene in multiple locations to stop Unite the Kingdom protesters trying to access sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing groups,” the Met said on X, confirming that “a number of officers have been assaulted.”

The demonstration, which according to the BBC has drawn crowds waving Union Jacks, St George’s crosses, Scottish saltires and Welsh flags, is billed by Robinson as a “free speech festival.” A large stage set up in Whitehall is hosting speeches from high-profile figures, including US President Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon, ex-special forces soldier Ant Middleton, and European far-right politicians from Germany’s AfD and Poland, The Guardian reported. US commentator Joey Mannarino is also scheduled to appear.

🚨NEW: Crowd of 500k-1M protesters have gathered in London for a Tommy Robinson march pic.twitter.com/9Z7Dow0SuN

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Speaking from the stage, Robinson accused politicians of “parroting” his ideas and claimed that UK courts had prioritised the rights of undocumented migrants over those of “local communities.” He pointed to last month’s Court of Appeal ruling that overturned an injunction blocking asylum seekers from being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Who is Tommy Robinson

The Guardian reported that for Robinson (42) — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — the rally represents an attempt to consolidate the fragmented far-right in Britain. He has allied himself with Advance UK, a new political party launched by former Reform UK figures, and increasingly embraced Christian nationalist rhetoric since his release from prison. Much of his core support is expected to come from football firms and veterans of the English Defence League.

In a video posted Thursday, Robinson referred to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, saying: “The bastard who has murdered him, or the organisation, the corporation or the government it is that has killed him.” Authorities later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the fatal shooting in Utah.

A counter-protest, dubbed the “March Against Fascism,” has also drawn nearly 5,000 people. Organised by Stand Up to Racism (SUTR), demonstrators marched from Russell Square toward Parliament Square, only a few hundred metres from the far-right rally, with placards reading “Women Against the Far Right,” “Oppose Tommy Robinson,” and “Refugees Welcome.” Speaking at the rally, Independent MP Diane Abbott urged demonstrators to show unity. “We know racism and violence and fascism is not new,” she said. “But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence.”

The Metropolitan Police said the Unite the Kingdom rally would be brought to a close by 18:00 (local time), while the counter-protest was required to finish by 16:00, in line with the organisers’ own timelines for speeches to conclude.

Concerns among Muslim residents over rhetoric

The Metropolitan Police have deployed around 1,000 officers for the day, including 500 borrowed from other forces, and established barriers to create a “sterile area” separating the two groups. Commander Clair Haynes noted concerns among London’s Muslim communities due to Robinson’s history of anti-Muslim rhetoric, but urged residents not to avoid central London: “Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime… Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London.”

The police said nine arrests have been made so far at the “unite the kingdom” march, however “many more people have been identified as committing offences.”

“We will find them and they will face police action, even if it is not possible to do so today,” it said in a post on X, adding that officers are continuing to face aggression in multiple locations as they are trying to create safe routes for those attending the anti-fascist counter protest.

Police confirmed they will not be using live facial recognition during the event and asked demonstrators to be considerate of communities they pass through. The Met said the Unite the Kingdom rally is scheduled to end by 18:00, while the counter-protest is expected to conclude by 16:00, according to the organisers’ plans.

As per The Guardian, Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate, an anti-extremism organisation, said the rally could be pivotal: “This is going to be big, but the real question is whether it becomes the moment the movement coalesces around Robinson — or whether it just highlights the fragmentation to the right of Reform UK.”

The event comes amid growing concerns over far-right mobilisation in the UK, with organisers blending nationalism, Christian rhetoric, and reactionary politics to attract supporters from across Britain, Europe, and the US, while anti-racism groups seek to counter the rising tide with coordinated protests and public awareness campaigns.

(With inputs from BBC, The Guardian and Reuters)