Far-right anti-immigration protests in London result in clashes with police

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Law enforcement officials had been “attacked with projectiles” and “assaulted” throughout far-right anti-immigration protests in London on Saturday, the British capital’s power stated, as greater than 110,000 folks took to the town’s streets.

The Unite the Kingdom protest was organized by far-right political activist Tommy Robinson. Counter-protesters additionally flocked to the British capital.

The Metropolitan Police Service stated on social media on Saturday that the reported assaults occurred after demonstrators on the Unite the Kingdom march breached a “sterile space” put in place to maintain protesters and counter-protesters aside.

In a later social media put up, the power stated: “Officers are having to intervene in a number of areas to cease Unite the Kingdom protesters attempting to entry sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing teams. Quite a lot of officers have been assaulted.”

The service stated that 26 officers had been injured within the clashes and 25 folks had been arrested.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist condemned the “wholly unacceptable” assaults in an announcement.

“Our post-event investigation has already begun - we're figuring out those that had been concerned within the dysfunction they usually can anticipate to face sturdy police motion within the coming days and weeks,” Twist stated.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan additionally stated that “violence and attacking law enforcement officials is totally unacceptable.”

Demonstrators brandishing flags of the UK and England – the Union Flag and the Cross of St. George respectively – marched to Whitehall, the London district the place the prime minister and authorities departments reside.

It comes after a summer season of <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2025%2F08%2F22%2Fuk%2Fbritish-hotels-asylum-seekers-immigration-epping-latam-intl&data=05%7C02%7CJedd.Rosche%40cnn.com%7C5231d934b6fe4e13631108ddf2d823b1%7C0eb48825e8714459bc72d0ecd68f1f39%7C0%7C0%7C638933732546130574%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZMnoABk4sxlbpHazOv1NbzezdAv4sX6TSfkdU3jWz8g%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">anti-immigration protests throughout the nation, a few of which turned violent. British and English flags have additionally <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2025%2F08%2F29%2Fuk%2Fst-george-flag-england-meaning-intl&data=05%7C02%7CJedd.Rosche%40cnn.com%7C5231d934b6fe4e13631108ddf2d823b1%7C0eb48825e8714459bc72d0ecd68f1f39%7C0%7C0%7C638933732546151892%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QDrejYVa%2BHHtMB0CPmhcyFs%2FGeQ1OA2NoF%2Bo6cufguM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">become commonplace in cities and cities throughout the nation in tandem with the protests.

One video posted confirmed a protester holding {a photograph} of the American political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday. The gang may be heard chanting Kirk’s title.

“Britain has lastly awoken. We’ve been ready many years,” Robinson, whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, stated in a single video. “Patriotism is the longer term, borders are the longer term, and we wish our free speech,” he stated.

Robinson, the founding father of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), was launched from jail earlier this 12 months, having been jailed for being in contempt of courtroom by repeating false accusations a few Syrian refugee.

Commander Clair Haynes from the Metropolitan Police acknowledged forward of Saturday’s protest that many Muslim Londoners might have “explicit considerations” concerning the Unite the Kingdom march, “given the report of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at earlier marches.”

“There have been some solutions that Muslim Londoners ought to change their habits this Saturday, together with not coming into city. That isn't our recommendation. Everybody ought to be capable of really feel secure travelling into and round London,” she stated in a <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.met.police.uk%2Fnews%2Fmet-prepares-for-busy-saturday-of-protest-and-other-events-500986&data=05%7C02%7CJedd.Rosche%40cnn.com%7C5231d934b6fe4e13631108ddf2d823b1%7C0eb48825e8714459bc72d0ecd68f1f39%7C0%7C0%7C638933732546166064%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tMaQb63qX1Gz4kALso8f1vw0qg%2FIW20kuTghEvkkQRw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">statement launched by the police power Friday.

In the meantime, massive crowds gathered for a counter-protest. Politicians together with the left-wing John McDonnell and Diane Abbott gave speeches. Protesters chanted phrases together with “no justice, no peace, no fascists on our streets” and “that is what group seems like.”

Sangita Myska, a journalist who attended the counter-protest, stated in a put up on social media that “folks of all political persuasions, class, race, gender and talent are uniting to indicate that Tommy Robinson’s (aka Yaxley-Lennon) hate stuffed rhetoric doesn't symbolize true British values.”