In a striking scene of defiance, a prominent community figure was heard rallying supporters with the phrase “no face, no case,” as he sold £5 balaclavas to his “Muslim brothers” before taking to the stage at a counter-protest. This gathering was organized in response to a planned march by the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

UKIP had been barred from holding their demonstration in Tower Hamlets, an area in east London known for having the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the United Kingdom. The prohibition did little to quell tensions, as groups of masked Muslim youths filled the streets on Saturday, determined to “defend their community.”

The atmosphere was charged as young men, clad in black attire with hoods and covered faces, marched through the streets. Flags from Bangladesh and Palestine fluttered in the air, presenting a visual statement in the very areas where UKIP had originally intended to march.

Adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding events, new footage surfaced showing one of the protest leaders, who goes by the moniker “Big Fish,” selling balaclavas to the participants. This move was seen as a preparatory measure for the demonstration, which had already raised significant concerns among local residents.

In the video, Big Fish, a social media entrepreneur, is captured wearing one of the balaclavas himself, urging others to come prepared for the protest. His actions and words seemed to resonate with the crowd, underscoring the palpable tension and determination present at the event.

The social media businessman, who goes by ‘Big Fish’, is seen wearing one of the masks as he asks protesters to make sure they are prepared for the demonstration.

Suggesting protesters should cover their faces to avoid being identified by police, he said: ‘No face no case.’ He added: ‘What’s going on my people? In all our shops… this Saturday inshallah if you guys need it, £5 each. My brothers, please start buying them now as I don’t want you to come the day before and found out we have run out.

‘I want to be able to facilitate this for the ends, inshallah. I’ve got this one as I don’t like the other ones, it makes Muslims look like criminals, you know with the eye, none of that. Please my brothers come and start buying it now so I can get more stock in to facilitate everyone for the day… get them on.’

This is the community leader who was flogging £5 balaclavas for his ‘Muslim brothers’ ahead of the protest against UKIP on Saturday

Members of the Bangladeshi community dressed in all black took to the streets to oppose a far-right march which was banned from entering Whitechapel on Saturday

Members of the Bangladeshi community praying during a counter demonstration outside an east London Mosque

The video was posted in an east London Facebook group where residents voiced major concerns about the planned demo.

One local wrote: ‘I want to raise awareness about a troubling video that has surfaced. It features a man wearing a balaclava and saying, “no face, no case.” He appears to be selling these balaclavas, and the tone of the video is concerning, as it seems to encourage intimidation and inciting violence on our streets.’

They added: ‘While I do not support UKIP or their views, I’m left wondering why there appears to be talk of balaclavas and violence this weekend if the event has been cancelled. Why is this individual promoting behaviour that could incite fear or violence in our community?’ 

Another said: ‘The public has a right to know why masked men will be on the streets. As I would not feel comfortable allowing a lady to walk among mobs of masked men.’

In another video, he is seen shaking hands and hugging controversial Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman. ‘The police might have said it’s been cancelled or whatever, but like the mayor said we still want you there,’ he says.

Mr Rahman is a divisive figure who was struck off as a solicitor and once banned from standing in election for five years after a specialist court found him guilty of vote-rigging and religious intimidation.

He was re-elected the independent mayor of Tower Hamlets in May 2022 and is still widely respected by many in the community. 

Locals said their video together ‘raised questions about the context of their interaction and what message it may be sending.

On Saturday, ‘Big fish’ shared several posts of himself at the Tower Hamlets demonstration. In one video, he is seen standing on stage holding a large Bangladeshi flag as a masked protester next to him delivers a speech to the crowd.

In another, he is seen with a group of masked protesters saying: ‘I’m here with all the brothers behind me… Here not for violence or hate, we are here we to stand ground on our own area which is Tower Hamlets.’

The counter-protest took place in Tower Hamlets, while UKIP’s planned demo was moved to central London. 

One protester at the Whitechapel demo took to a microphone promising to ‘stand firm’ in defending their community from far-right protesters. 

‘They came specifically targeting Islam,’ he said. ‘They said, “we are coming on a crusade”, they said “we need to take back our streets”.  

‘We stand firm to let them know if you come, we will stand firm and will be ready to defend our elders, to defend our women, to defend our community.

‘We have never once said we were going on crusades or going into your areas to cause you problems.

‘You are coming into our homes and you want to cause us problems. What is wrong with us standing up?

‘Today is a day we unite,’ he said to a crowd chanting a series of messages in Arabic. 

‘Big fish’ posted several videos from the demonstration which took place in Whitechapel

In another video, he was seen shaking hands and hugging controversial Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman 

‘Big fish’ is seen on stage as a masked protester delivers a speech with a megaphone 

‘They came specifically targeting Islam,’ the man said while speaking into a microphone. ‘They said, “we are coming on a crusade”, they said “we need to take back our streets”

‘Today is a day we unite,’ he said to a crowd chanting a series of messages in Arabic

On Tuesday, the Met had imposed restrictions on the UKIP demonstration, banning supporters from entering the borough of Tower Hamlets in a bid to prevent ‘serious disorder’ and instead directing them to Marble Arch. 

Left-wing counter-protesters were told to continue their protest as planned in Whitechapel and not enter areas of central London where the UKIP march would be taking place instead. 

But at the Marble Arch meeting four left-wing protesters, believed to be supporters of campaign group Stand Up To Racism, were arrested by Met Police officers in Hyde Park Corner after defying the police ban in an attempt to confront UKIP protesters.

Elsewhere, outside the London Oratory, a Catholic church in Kensington, 75 UKIP activists gathered at 1pm before their march towards Marble Arch, with many holding Union Jacks, crosses and signs reading ‘Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain’. 

They were led by UKIP leader Nick Tenconi, carrying a banner which read ‘Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain’ while others at the protest carried wooden crosses.

They could be heard chanting, ‘hail the nation, deportation” and “send them home,’ as well as ‘who’s the King of Britain? Christ is King!’.

Tenconi also rejected allegations of fascism, telling protestors that his grandparents had fled fascist Italy.

Attending the protest was TV personality Narinder Kaur, who was pictured being led away by police officers after she confronted far-right protesters 

She took to Twitter (formerly X) after the incident, writing: ‘Love how they were more interested in me than little Nick from Ukip. 

‘They tried to get me arrested but managed to just get the police to protect me.’

TV personality Narinder Kaur is led away by police officers after she confronted far right protesters

Masked men took to the streets of east London vowed to ‘defend their community’ against far-right protesters

A masked man standing with a megaphone in Whitechapel on Saturday

The turnout of people in the community opposing UKIPs demo comes after restrictions prevented the group marching in Whitechapel

A wedding guest was also left irritated by the demonstration due to marchers ‘massively disrupt[ing] proceedings’ outside a church. 

‘The bride is just shattered,’ he added.

UKIP protest attendee Martin Ponting, 45, said the march was about ‘sending a clear message’.

‘We live in a two-tier country. Why couldn’t we be in east London?,’ he said. ‘But we’re here instead and we’ve had enough.’

A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and other local groups, amassed from 12pm in Whitechapel, east London

The Met imposed restrictions on the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) demonstration, banning supporters from entering the borough of Tower Hamlets in a bid to prevent ‘serious disorder’

Protesters pass by Harrods with a banner during a march organised by UKIP

Around 75 people turned up to the UKIP rally, which set off from the London Oratory in Kensington

Supporters of UK Independence Party (UKIP) wave flags during a march in London on October 25

Supporters of UK Independence Party (UKIP) gather for a march in London on October 25

A man waves a large Union Jack flag at a march in support of UKIP on Saturday

Earlier this week, Met imposed Public Order Act conditions on UKIP demonstrators, preventing them from holding the protest anywhere in the borough of Tower Hamlets on Tuesday. 

Previously, the force banned the demonstration from its planned site in Whitechapel, an area with a large Muslim population, with officers saying there was ‘realistic prospect of serious disorder’.

The march is part of a series of events taking place across the UK which were promoted as a ‘mass deportations tour’, with organisers calling on attendees to ‘reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists’, UKIP’s X profile said.