Thousands of people who joined a Tommy Robinson-led "Unite the Kingdom" march through central London on Saturday were involved in violent clashes with police and counter-protesters, leaving at least 26 officers injured and prompting multiple arrests, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said between 110,000 and 150,000 people took part in the right-leaning demonstration, which began near Waterloo Bridge and moved toward Whitehall. Scenes of disorder erupted near Trafalgar Square and the southern end of Whitehall as officers made repeated efforts to hold lines between the marchers and a counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism, which the Met estimated drew about 5,000 people.
Video footage circulating online shows officers scrambling to drag an apparently unconscious man to safety while mounted police and colleagues on foot formed a protective cordon. In the footage the man, who the reports say was Black, is seen on the ground as officers move him away from the crowd; the footage appears to show him being kicked before officers intervened.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist described the violence as "wholly unacceptable," saying officers faced "significant aggression" and were assaulted and hit with missiles while trying to police the event. "There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence," he 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 Met reported 26 officers were injured, including four seriously, with injuries ranging from broken teeth and a possible broken nose to concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury. At least 25 people were arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage, and the force said its post-event investigation had already begun.
Police used baton charges and deployed mounted officers after smaller scuffles and attempts by some demonstrators to force their way through police lines. The Met said groups of marchers attempted to push into areas designated to keep rival groups apart, and that officers had to intervene at multiple locations to stop protesters reaching so-called "sterile areas" and counter-activists. The force also said people had scaled fencing and scaffolding around Whitehall, creating further risks to safety.
There were several incidents involving horses. Officers on horseback, standing between opposing groups, were hit by projectiles and at least one glass bottle appeared to strike a horse, causing rider and animal to stagger. Police later reinforced lines with more than 100 helmeted officers and dozens of mounted police to push supporters back from Trafalgar Square toward Embankment station.
The rally featured speeches and performances on a stage in Whitehall and overran a 6 p.m. cut-off time imposed by police. Speakers included Robinson and other far-right figures and activists, and organisers said a video appearance by Elon Musk addressed the crowd. In the video appearance, Musk criticised the government and said protesters should "fight back or die," comments that New Labour Business Secretary Peter Kyle described as "slightly incomprehensible" and "totally inappropriate" while noting that the event showed free speech was being exercised.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on social media that "the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to this nation" but added that those who assaulted police officers or engaged in criminal activity "will face the full force of the law." London Mayor Sadiq Khan thanked officers for their work and said the violence against them was "completely unacceptable."
Organisers and speakers at the rally included a mix of domestic and international right-wing figures. The Met said it had instructed commanders to deal robustly with disorder and warned more arrests were likely as investigators identify those involved. British Transport Police also responded to reports of a crush near Westminster Bridge during the march.
The demonstration and the counter-protest were held against a backdrop of heightened public debate over migration and extremism in the UK. Police said their priority throughout the day was to facilitate lawful protest while preventing disorder and protecting the public; the force stressed its inquiry into the day's events would continue and those identified committing offences should expect further action.
Officials said speeches and music continuing on the Whitehall stage late into the evening prolonged disruption after the formal cut-off, and Metropolitan Police commanders indicated that evidence from body-worn footage, CCTV and public submissions would inform forthcoming prosecutions and policing reviews.
The Met urged anyone with information, images or footage of criminal activity to provide it to officers as the force carried out its post-event investigation, while reiterating a commitment to hold to account those responsible for assaults on officers and criminal acts committed during the demonstration.