Tommy Robinson protest: Thousands gather in central London for 'Unite the Kingdom' rally as five arrested
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Thousands of protesters have gathered in central London for a march supporting Tommy Robinson - alongside a separate counter-demonstration.
The "Stop the Isolation" or "Unite the Kingdom" rally assembled outside Waterloo station before heading north to Westminster and Parliament Square.
Meanwhile, counter-protesters organised by Stand Up To Racism began a march from St James's Street, south of Piccadilly Circus, moving towards Whitehall.
The Robinson-inspired protesters were heard chanting "We want our country back" and "We want Tommy out" as they marched through central London.
The 'Stop the Isolation' or 'Unite the Kingdom' rally assembled outside Waterloo station before heading north to Westminster
PA
And several were seen carrying flags with slogans including "Free Tommy Robinson" - and wearing "MEGA: Make England Great Again" hats and "I am Tommy" stickers.
The counter-protest, moving via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket, plans to hold a rally at the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.
Organisers described their march as standing "together against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism" and said they "won't let the far right divide us".
And on Saturday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said five people were arrested following the marches.
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Several marchers were seen carrying flags with slogans including 'Free Tommy Robinson' - and wearing 'MEGA: Make England Great Again' hats
PA
The arrests "include the incident where a flare was set off, an arrest near Waterloo after an officer was spat at, and three arrests in Whitehall after Stop The Isolation protesters entered the Stand Up To Racism rally area in breach of conditions," the force said.
The Met had said it was restricting pedestrian access through central Whitehall to keep the groups separated.
While those not involved in protests have been told to use alternative routes between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square.
Commander Louise Puddefoot, leading the policing operation, said the force was "well prepared" for both protests - with officers deployed "in significant numbers".
Organisers of the Robinson protest posted on social media that they would 'proceed to Downing Street' to 'deliver our message to the establishment'
PARobinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October after the Solicitor General took legal action against him after he breached a High Court injunction made in 2021.
He admitted to 10 breaches of the order, which had barred him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian migrant.
Organisers of the Robinson protest posted on social media that they would "proceed to Downing Street" to "deliver our message to the establishment".
While Stand Up To Racism co-convenor Weyman Bennett said: "We saw the power of mobilising against the far-right in response to last summer's racist riots. We must bring that anti-racist spirit onto the streets of London and reject the politics of hate."
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