Metropolitan Police Bolster Security Measures with Armoured Cars and Drones, Leading to Key Arrests at Demonstrations

Authorities have begun making arrests as approximately 80,000 demonstrators converge on London for two significant, opposing protests, part of an extensive £4.5 million police operation deemed ‘unprecedented’ in scale.

Scotland Yard has mobilized 4,000 officers to manage the Unite the Kingdom march, spearheaded by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and a pro-Palestine demonstration commemorating Nakba Day, which marks the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the establishment of Israel.

In a bid to prevent clashes between the groups, the Metropolitan Police have deployed armored vehicles, mounted units, police dogs, drones, and helicopters alongside thousands of officers.

Adding to the day’s challenges, Chelsea and Manchester City are competing in the FA Cup final at Wembley, prompting concerns that football fans might join the demonstrations following the match.

Sir Keir Starmer issued a cautionary statement on Saturday, describing the situation as a ‘fight for the soul of this country,’ as the Met Police prepares for one of its most extensive operations in recent memory.

Unite the Kingdom participants, brandishing Union Jack and St George’s flags, began gathering as early as 9 a.m. in anticipation of today’s event.

And it did not take long before police started making arrests with footage showing a man, believed to be Raise the Colours leader Ryan Bridge, being handcuffed outside Euston Station while flag-waving protesters hurled abuse at cops. 

The Met said two men ‘wanted on suspicion of GBH after an incident in Birmingham were a man was run over’ were arrested at Euston after they were spotted arriving into London to attend the Unite the Kingdom protest.

It comes after a man was run over by a van after a group of people were taking down Union Jack flags put up by Raise the Colours campaigners in Stirchley on Thursday evening. 

Officers were also seen chasing after and arresting pro-Palestine protesters shortly after the march began in South Kensington. 

As of 1pm, the force said eleven people have been arrested ‘for a variety of offences’.

Police estimate some 50,000 people will attend the Unite the Kingdom rally, which will end at Parliament Square, with a further 30,000 expected to join the annual pro-Palestine ‘Nakba Day’ rally which finishes at Waterloo Place. 

The previous Unite the Kingdom protest in September was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people.  

Ahead of today’s Unite the Kingdom march, Sir Keir said: ‘We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.’ 

Police are managing a so-called ‘sterile zone’ between the two marches. The Nakba Day march formed at Exhibition Road in Kensington, then go via Cromwell Gardens, Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, before ending at Pall Mall. 

The rally will then take place at Waterloo Place – with organisers told speeches and music must end by 5pm, and the assembly by 5.30pm.

The Unite the Kingdom march started on Kingsway and will move through Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, ending in Parliament Square, where Robinson will give a speech. Speeches and music must conclude by 5.30pm, and the assembly by 6pm.

Ahead of the march, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, wrote in a post on X: ‘Today, we Unite the Kingdom and the West in the greatest patriotic display the world has ever seen.’

Huge crowds were heard chanting ‘Keir Starmer is a w*****’ and ‘We want Starmer out’ along Kingsway.

Kim Anderson, 68, from Norwich, has attended today to ‘rid Britain of Starmer, once and for all’.

She said: ‘I’m fed up of Starmer. This country is a mess. I am disgusted for being called far-Right.

‘All I want is an end to the ridiculous amounts of immigration and billions being spent on people doing nothing to contribute to this country.

‘I’ve had enough. But we are being labeled as being wrong. The double standards in this country is outrageous. I am proud to be part of this country.’

Mother Sandra Dilks, 45, from Epping, Essex, has travelled to London with friends.

She said: ‘This is a massive day. I can’t wait. It’ll be peaceful but loud. We’ve had enough of Keir Starmer. He’s a disgrace and he has ruined this country.’

Many pro-Trump flags were also visible in the crowd, as well as Union Jacks, the St George’s flag and others saying ‘Jesus is the way of life’.

Chants of ‘Oh Tommy Tommy’ were heard coming from the crowd as well as ‘We want freedom’.

Police were also seen fonciscating cans of lager from Unite the Kingdom supporters – after Westminster Council issued a public spaces protection order to ban people from carrying alcohol in cans and bottles. 

Janine Ponting, 35, joined the demo after a 12-hour journey on car and train from Newcastle.

The receptionist said: ‘It’s an amazing turn out. Our country is over. We need radical change. Starmer has destroyed it. Today, we’re sending a message that we’ve simply had enough.’

As the protest got underway, Sir Keir wrote on X: ‘Today the voices of division will be loud. They don’t speak for the country I know, one that belongs to all of us. That’s our Britain. A Britain worth fighting for.’ 

His deputy, David Lammy, added: ‘The Unite the Kingdom march organisers are spreading hatred and division. They do not reflect the Britain I’m proud of. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right and one I will always protect. But if protest turns violent, we will act swiftly, with extra court capacity in place.’ 

Meanwhile, Daniel Kebede, National Education Union general secretary, said ‘we’re marching today to show that we will not allow Tommy Robinson and the far right to divide our communities’.

Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism co-convener, said: ‘Violence broke out the last time Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom demonstration mobilised what was one of the largest far-right street demonstrations in recent British history.

‘This comes amid wider attempts by figures such as Elon Musk to amplify far-right narratives and encourage political instability.

‘The far right is attempting to exploit the cost-of-living crisis by stirring up racism and falsely blaming migrants and refugees for people’s hardships in order to build a dangerous street movement.

‘History shows where this kind of politics can lead.

‘That is why tens of thousands of people will mobilise today to oppose racism and the far right, and to demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain reject hate and division.’

In South Kensington, thousands of pro-Palestine protesters assembled for a rival protest. 

Chants of the controversial ‘from the river to the sea’ phrase were heard shortly before protesters were due to set off. 

Police were seen watching on.

A woman was arrested after she appeared to refuse to remove a fabric face mask she was wearing at the pro-Palestine protest.

She was part of a group of protesters who were all asked to remove fabric and surgical face coverings.

A separate group, who were wearing orange jumpsuits with masks over their faces bearing a photo of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, were also asked to remove their masks.

Protesters also held signs, some of which sported anti-Semitic slogans suggesting the UK had been ‘corrupted’ by the ‘Zionist lobby.’

Many protesters also had signs showing opposition to the far-right.

‘Smash the far right’ read one sign, while another said ‘Stop Farage, Stop Trump.’

The Government blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Sir Keir as ‘far-right agitators’ from entering the UK ahead of the Unite the Kingdom rally.

Right-wing figures claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

For the first time under official protest restrictions, organisers of the rallies will face prosecution as well as any speakers who break the law by using the events as a platform for extremism or hate speech.

Offences of stirring up hatred under the Public Order Act carry a jail term of up to seven years. 

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said: ‘This is not about restricting free speech. It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public, particularly at a time of heightened tensions.’

Live facial recognition will be used for the first time in a protest policing operation, with cameras set up in an area of Camden that is not on the route of the Unite the Kingdom march, but is expected to be used by a lot of people attending the event.

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Professor William Webster said police forces could find themselves taken to court over their use of the technology, saying it is not ‘foolproof’.

Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the scale of the operation is ‘unprecedented in recent years’ and will cost the force £4.5million – £1.7million of which is to bring in officers from other forces to boost numbers.

Around 4,000 officers are expected to be on duty on Saturday, with 660 being drafted in from forces outside the Met.

Mr Harman said: ‘We are policing two significant and potentially challenging protests in the centre of London, as well as the FA Cup final, which is taking place in Wembley on the same day.

‘We’re doing this at a time of continued global instability and tension, which we know has the potential to fuel tension and play out on the streets of London, the terrorism threat level has been raised to severe, and in recent weeks and months, we have seen a terrorist attack.’

Downing Street said law-abiding protesters would continue to be protected, but warned that anyone attempting to ‘break the law and create chaos’ should expect to ‘feel the full force of the law’.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Federation said many officers have had leave cancelled and rest days withdrawn to meet policing requirements, adding: ‘There are not enough of us.’

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. But anyone spreading hate or committing acts of violence will face the full force of the law.’