Police, protesters scuffle as 110,000 join London rally

LONDON — More than 100,000 protesters marched through central London on Saturday, carrying flags of England and Britain and scuffling with police in one of the United Kingdom's biggest rightwing demonstrations of modern times.

London's Metropolitan Police said the "Unite the Kingdom" march, organized by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, was attended by around 110,000 people, who were kept apart from a "Stand Up to Racism" counterprotest attended by around 5,000.

The police appeared to be taken by surprise by the size of the turnout, describing the rally as "too big to fit into Whitehall" — a wide street lined with government buildings — on the approved route of the march.

Police trying to prevent protesters veering from the route faced "unacceptable violence", the force said, describing officers being kicked and punched and facing hurled bottles, flares and other projectiles.

The police said 26 officers were injured, including four seriously.

Arrests totaled 25, which the force said was "just the start".

"We are identifying those who were involved in the disorder and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks," Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said.

The march brought a culmination to a highly charged summer in Britain that included protests staged outside hotels housing migrants.

Demonstrators carried the Union flag of Britain and the red and white St. George's Cross of England, while others brought United States and Israeli flags. They chanted slogans critical of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and carried placards, including some saying "send them home".

"Today is the spark of a cultural revolution in Great Britain, this is our moment," Robinson addressed the crowds, saying they had shown "a tidal wave of patriotism".

In a video link to the rally, US billionaire Elon Musk, who has supported Robinson and other far-right figures, called for a change of government in Britain.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, describes himself as a journalist exposing state wrongdoing.

Britain's biggest anti-immigrant political party, Reform UK, which has topped opinion polls in recent months, has kept its distance from Robinson, who has several criminal convictions.

Agencies via Xinhua