The Metropolitan Police said they are investigating a video that appears to show a man calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be assassinated during Saturday’s Unite the Kingdom march organised by Stephen Yaxley‑Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. The force said enquiries are ongoing to identify the man and that no arrests have been made so far.
In the clip, filmed amid a large crowd, a protester is heard saying, "Keir Starmer needs to be assassinated, someone needs to shoot Keir Starmer." The comment was made during an on‑camera exchange with William Coleshill, a former Conservative councillor and conspiracy theorist, who responded that Starmer should be tried and "lawfully executed." The footage circulated widely on social media and prompted condemnation online and calls for police action.
Police said the video emerged as officers reported nine arrests after crowd members hurled missiles at officers and committed other offences during what authorities said was one of the largest right‑wing protests in recent British history. Organisers and some participants described the demonstration as an anti‑migrant march; the Metropolitan Police estimated the main demonstration drew about 110,000 people, while a counter‑demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism numbered about 5,000.
The Met said officers faced "significant aggression" at times while policing the march and had to intervene in multiple locations to prevent protesters from breaching police lines and reaching counter‑protesters. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were reported to have been thrown, and officers said some were assaulted with kicks and punches. Mounted units and reinforcements were deployed as the force sought to create safe exit routes for those participating in the counter‑protest.
Speeches and music at the Whitehall stage continued beyond a 6 p.m. cut‑off imposed by police, the force said. Several public figures addressed the crowd via video link, and some demonstrators carried photographs of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead earlier this week in Utah while speaking at a university event.
The Met shared aerial footage showing groups of protesters attempting to force their way through police barriers and posted an infographic marking locations of disorder and demonstrations. Images and witness accounts showed confrontations at points including Victoria Embankment and near Waterloo Bridge, where officers set up lines to hold back marchers.
A force spokesperson said: "We're aware of a video circulating on social media from the 'Unite the Kingdom' protest on Saturday, 13 September in central London. Officers are investigating and enquiries are ongoing to identify a man. No arrests have been made so far." The spokesperson added that many more people had been identified as committing offences and that police would pursue them even if they could not be detained that day.
Online users who saw the clip urged the Met to identify and arrest the man. The police have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The investigation into the video and the policing operation at the march are continuing. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment further on the progress of enquiries, and no charges connected to the video have been announced.