Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London on Saturday for the "Unite the Kingdom" march organised by hard‑right activist Tommy Robinson, a demonstration that paid tribute to slain U.S. conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and culminated in clashes with police that left several people injured and at least nine arrested, the Metropolitan Police said.
Officers said they deployed around 1,600 personnel to the capital for the event, which drew participants from across the UK and featured nationalist flags, flares and a series of speeches. The Met said officers who moved to stop some demonstrators from leaving their designated area faced "unacceptable violence" and were assaulted with kicks and punches while bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown. "Nine arrests have been made so far for various offences, but many more people have been identified as committing offences. We will find them and they will face action," the force said.
The rally began under clear skies on the South Bank and moved towards Whitehall and Westminster, drawing a crowd that organisers described in promotional material as a show of "free speech" and opposition to the government's handling of migration. Marchers carried Union Jacks, St George's crosses and placards with slogans such as "We want our country back" and "Save our kids," and speakers invoked national identity and safety concerns.
Tommy Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley‑Lennon, addressed the crowd on Whitehall and urged supporters to view the day as the start of what he called a "cultural revolution". Speakers at the event included former actor and activist Laurence Fox and Petr Bystron, a Bundestag member for the Alternative for Germany party. A religious delegation from New Zealand performed a traditional haka on stage. A 13‑year‑old student from Warwickshire also spoke about British culture.
Several speakers and attendees paid tribute to Charlie Kirk, who was recently shot dead at a university campus in Utah; the killing of Kirk was a recurring reference throughout the event. X owner Elon Musk addressed the rally by video link, decrying what he described as threats to free speech and making claims about political opponents that were delivered to the crowd as his opinion.
A counter‑demonstration organised by anti‑racism group Stand Up To Racism held speeches at Russell Square before marching separately towards central Westminster. Police sought to keep the two groups apart; mounted units and officers in protective gear were deployed as the day progressed.
Tensions rose through the afternoon. Eyewitnesses and media footage showed flares and missiles thrown towards police lines, and images captured officers responding with riot shields. At least one person was seen receiving treatment for a head wound and another with a facial injury, and officers reported a series of assaults on staff. The Met said more than 100 officers on foot, backed by mounted units, were involved in evening clashes as they attempted to contain pockets of disorder.
Transport services were affected during the march. A sightseeing double‑decker bus was temporarily halted by the crowd near Waterloo Station, leaving tourists stranded as protesters marched past. Organisers and some participants described the turnout in large terms; Robinson promoted the event as one of the largest in the country's history, a claim not independently verified.
The Metropolitan Police said teams from other forces, including officers from Nottinghamshire, were brought in to support the operation, and one demonstrator noted the size of the policing operation. The force did not give a final attendance figure; organisers circulated an estimate of about 110,000, which could not be independently confirmed.
London has seen repeated demonstrations in recent years focused on migration, identity and policing. Saturday's event underscored continued public mobilisation around those issues and the challenges police face in managing large and sometimes confrontational gatherings.
The Met said it would continue to review evidence, identify those seen committing offences and take appropriate action. The force did not provide a final tally of injuries, and investigations into individual incidents and arrests were ongoing. Political leaders and campaign groups were expected to issue responses in the coming days, and police said they would publish further information as inquiries progress.