Tommy Robinson march - LIVE: Police make arrests as thousands of Robinson supporters join protest in London
Thousands join Stand Up To Racism counter-protest
Police have made a number of arrests after thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters gathered in central London for a protest – with Robinson being being remanded into custody by police on Friday.
Four people - two from the far-right march and two from the anti-racist counter-protest - have been arrested so far on Saturday.
Officers from across the country were drafted in to support the Metropolitan Police as chants of “Oh Tommy, Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” were heard amongst ‘Uniting the Kingdom’ attendees.
Meanwhile, thousands of counter-protesters gathered at a march organised by Stand Up To Racism, which called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, missed his own planned march as he remains in police custody.
He is accused of being in contempt of court following the airing of a film at a protest in central London and after attending Folkestone Police station on Friday, he was separately charged with failing to provide his mobile phone Pin to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.
United Families and Friends Campaign speaker addresses crowd that is marching to Downing Street
An activist has stressed to the crowd and press in central London that they are not here “just for the Kaba family”, but for all “grieving” families who are “bereaved at the hands of the state”.
She spoke of “collective grief”, “devastation” and “disappointment”, adding: “We have each other. We are strong. We are powerful.”
The speaker finished by leading a chant of “we believe that we will win” and “the people united will never be defeated”.
Stand Up To Racism hails ‘awesome’ turnout
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism, has called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.
United Families and Friends Campaign march sets off on way to Downing Street
The march from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street has now started.
The front of the group is holding a banner which reads: “United Families and Friends Campaign. No more deaths in custody”.
Activists are holding signs reading “No justice”, “no one forgotten, nothing forgiven” and “no to hatred, no to fascism”.
Protesters are also holding images of people they say died in custody.
Counter-protest forming
The Stand Up To Racism counter-protest is forming up in Regent Street St James’s.
The march is set to begin at 1pm, heading up and around Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket and round into the top of Whitehall.
Assembly area moved after march set off early
The assembly area of the far-right march has been adjusted after attendees set off from Victoria Station over an hour early.
The Met Police said: “The ‘Uniting the Kingdom’ march is forming up in Victoria Street. Working with the event organisers we have moved the forming up area north to the junction with Buckingham Gate to help keep the area around the station clear. The march will set off at 12.30pm.”
March halted after setting off early
The extremist far-right march has been halted temporarilynafter setting off over an hour early.
What appears to be hundreds of Tommy Robinson supporters gathered at Victoria Station on Saturday morning as they prepared to march to Whitehall at the given time of 1pm.
The start of the march was brought forward by the police to 12:30pm, however those in attendance began marching over an hour early.
They have now been halted down the road.
Far-right chant ‘oh Tommy, Tommy'
Hundreds of Tommy Robinson supporters are chanting “Oh Tommy, Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” ahead of the Unite The Kingdom rally.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is missing his own planned march after being remanded into custody by police on Friday.
Counter-protesters gather
Anti-racist counter-protesters have begun to gather as they prepare to oppose Tommy Robinson’s far-right march.
The counter-protest - organised by Stand Up to Racism - will begin at Regent Street St James’s and finish at the north end of Whitehall.
Stand Up to Racism called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.
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