Violence erupts at far-right “unite the kingdom” rally in London
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A far-right rally in central London organised by activist Tommy Robinson turned violent on Saturday, September 13, leaving dozens of police officers injured and resulting in 24 arrests.
Authorities have pledged to continue pursuing more suspects linked to the unrest.
London’s Metropolitan Police estimated that more than 110,000 people attended the “Unite the Kingdom” march, which ended in clashes between supporters and officers. Police confirmed that 26 officers were injured during the event, four of them seriously. A “post-event investigation is underway” to identify others involved in the disorder.
The event attracted far-right figures from around the world, including a video message from X owner Elon Musk. In a provocative speech, Musk called the political left “the party of murder” and told the crowd, “You either fight back or you die.” The New York Times noted that Musk’s decision to reinstate Robinson’s account last year significantly boosted the activist’s visibility.
The violence began when some of Robinson’s supporters threw bottles and other objects at police while trying to break through barriers separating them from a smaller counterprotest group of about 5,000 participants. Officers were punched and kicked, prompting riot gear reinforcements to be deployed.
Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the founder of the anti-Islam English Defence League. He has previous convictions for assault and contempt of court. Though billed as a free speech rally, the event also featured tributes to slain US conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a speech by French politician Eric Zemmour, who referenced the “great replacement” conspiracy theory.
The anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate described the rally as “unprecedented” and warned it could be a “sign of dark times to come.” The large crowd cheered calls for the “remigration” of legal migrants and claimed Britain was being “invaded.”
The Metropolitan Police continue their investigation as the fallout from the rally deepens.