MORE than 1,600 cops have been deployed across London to police a rally led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Robinson called on “football lads” from Premier League games taking place across the capital today to join his Unite the Kingdom protest.
NNPThousands of protesters have descended near Waterloo Bridge for the march[/caption]
AlamyThe Met has been forced to call in hundreds of officers from across the country[/caption]
LNPA man dressed as an English Knight gathered along with the large crowd in Waterloo[/caption]
PAStand Up To Racism has also organised a counter-protest in the capital[/caption]
EPAThe assassination of American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk has also been used to drive support for the rally[/caption]
Speaking on what he claims will be the biggest protest in British history, he said: “The football lads are coming from everywhere.”
The Met has been forced to call in hundreds of officers from across the country, as five Premier League football games also take place.
The matches, including derbies between West Ham & Tottenham and Brentford & Chelsea, will run until this evening.
Cops are stretched to the limit as MPs Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana are set to lead a counter-protest against Robinson’s march
Commander Clair Haynes, in charge of the policing operation in London, insisted Muslim Londoners should not change their plans
She said: “We recognise there are concerns for many in London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest.
“There have been suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town.
“That is not our advice. Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London.
“Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.”
The assassination of American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk has also been used to drive support for the rally.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, last night tweeted a picture of a British and American flag with Kirk superimposed on it.
Protesters attending Robinson’s march have arrived in Stamford Street, near Waterloo Bridge, and will march towards Whitehall.
Demonstrators joining a counter protest dubbed March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) are also flooding in.
They will meet Robinson’s rally in the same area, with barriers in place to keep a “large sterile area” between the two conflicting groups.
Met Police Federation chairwoman Paula Dodds said officers policing large protests regularly are “emotionally and physically exhausted”.
She said: “They have come under attack and been violently assaulted for doing the job society expects of them.
“The demand is relentless. And it’s not sustainable.”
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
