At least 26 Metropolitan Police officers were injured, four seriously, and 25 people were arrested after a Saturday rally in central London organised by anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, police said.
The event, promoted as "Unite The Kingdom," drew an estimated 150,000 people to central London and is believed by police to be the largest right-wing demonstration in British history. Officers said they faced "unacceptable violence" as they sought to police the vast crowds, and that arrests so far have been for offences including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage.
Attendees met at Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge before marching to the southern end of Whitehall. A counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism was assembled at the opposite end of Whitehall, with the Met saying about 5,000 people attended the counter-protest. According to police, the number of Unite The Kingdom participants significantly exceeded organisers' estimates, which led to congestion that backed up on to Westminster Bridge.
Met Police said some participants ignored police directions as they tried to move into Whitehall, turning into Victoria Embankment, Horse Guards Avenue, Whitehall Place, Northumberland Avenue and Craven Street. When officers intervened to block access to secure or "sterile" areas and to protect the Stand Up To Racism gathering, they were met with physical attacks, the force said.
"There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence," Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said. "They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe. The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable."
Police described assaults on officers that included kicks and punches, and said bottles, flares and other projectiles were hurled at officers. Four officers suffered serious injuries, which the Met said included broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury. Officers put on full protective equipment in a number of places and used shields. Horses and police dogs were deployed to keep groups apart.
The force said it had to surround the counter-protesters at times to prevent activists from breaching lines and attacking those on the opposing side. In addition to reported assaults on officers, police said people scaled fencing and scaffolding around Whitehall, creating dangerous situations.
Overhead footage shared by the Met showed groups attempting to force their way through police barriers. Senior officers said the policing operation involved colleagues from across England and Wales, with more than 500 officers from other forces supporting the Met's response. "I am hugely grateful to the officers who were deployed in central London today, to those on duty in all 32 boroughs responding to 999 calls and to the more than 500 colleagues from forces across England and Wales who stood alongside us in some very challenging circumstances," Twist added.
The Met said its post-event investigation has already begun and that identifying those involved in the disorder is a priority. "The 25 arrests we have made so far is just the start," Twist said, adding that those responsible can expect "robust police action in the coming days and weeks." Police warned that further arrests were expected as investigators review footage and gather evidence from the event.
Organisers of Unite The Kingdom and representatives of Stand Up To Racism did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The demonstration and clashes come amid heightened public debate in the UK over immigration and community tensions. Police and local authorities will continue to assess the operation and any lessons for future public order planning.
This is a developing story and further details may follow as police investigations continue.