UK: 25 held after violent clashes erupt during anti-immigration rally in London

At least 25 people were arrested on Saturday local time after violent clashes erupted during one of the United Kingdoms largest rightwing demonstrations in recent years according to a statement issued by Londons Metropolitan Police ServiceView this post on InstagramA post shared by midday middayindiaIn the statement Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist stated that 26 officers were also injured in the violence four of them seriously Reported injuries included broken teeth a suspected broken nose a concussion a prolapsed disc and a head woundTwist further stated that the 25 arrests made were just the start and that more individuals involved in the unrest are being identified for prosecutionThere is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest but there were many who came intent on violence They confronted officers engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe the statement readThe violence they faced was wholly unacceptable Twentysix officers were injured including four seriously among them broken teeth a possible broken nose a concussion a prolapsed disc and a head injury The 25 arrests we have made so far are just the start Our postevent investigation has already begun we are identifying those who were involved in the disorder and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks it addedThis came during the Unite the Kingdom rally organised by antiimmigration antiIslam activist Tommy Robinson which drew an estimated 110000 to 150000 participants to central London as reported by Al JazeeraThe arrest followed intense confrontations between rightwing protesters and officers attempting to maintain public order particularly near Whitehall where a smaller counterdemonstration of around 5000 people had gathered under the Stand Up to Racism bannerThe massive rally was led by Robinson a farright figure known for his antiimmigrant and antiIslam rhetoric He promoted the event as a defence of British culture and free speech declaring it a force of patriotism never seen beforeIn a post on X Robinson further claimed that over three million people had joined the rally in central London while slamming the media reports that stated that only 110000 people had gathered during the rallyOver THREE million patriots hit central London today in a force of patriotism never seen before And were just getting started Robinson stated in a post on XThe guardian reported 110k at our London rally today Yet literally had their own helicopter showing the millions of patriots Legacy media proving again theyll just lie to your face for their own agenda This is why nobody trusts them We are the media now he stated in another postHe further stated that the rally was a foundation for a cultural revolution and called it a beautiful sightAs per Al Jazeera speakers at the event included figures such as US billionaire Elon Musk via video link French farright leader Eric Zemmour and German MP Petr Bystron of the AfD party Many protesters carried UK and St Georges Cross flags along with American and Israeli flags and some wore Make America Great Again hats in support of US President Donald Trump Slogans included Send them home and messages opposing UK Prime Minister Keir StarmerMeanwhile antiracism demonstrators gathered nearby to condemn the rallys farright messaging Al Jazeera reportedHolding placards reading Refugees welcome and Smash the far right the counterprotesters were joined by UK MPs Diane Abbott and Zarah SultanaAbbott accused Robinsons supporters of spreading nonsense and fearmongering saying asylum seekers are not the cause of the UKs social and economic challengesThe Stand Up to Racism group also reported that some of its members were attacked during the eventAre these the concerned ordinary people weve heard so much about Or are they farright thugs the group posted on XAs per Al Jazeera the rally takes place amid a surge in support for the farright Reform UK party which some polls suggest could emerge as the leading political force in the UK if elections were held nowAlthough Reform UK has distanced itself from Robinson the scale of Saturdays march highlights growing antiimmigration sentiment across the countryThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever