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Clashes erupted in central London on Saturday as more than 100,000 people gathered for a rally organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with police arresting nine people after officers faced what authorities called "unacceptable violence."
The Metropolitan Police estimated 110,000 attendees at Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" event, making it one of the largest far-right demonstrations in recent British history. Participants, many carrying English and British flags, marched over Westminster Bridge before rallying near Downing Street for what Robinson called the country's "biggest free speech festival."
Violence broke out when some attendees could not access the main stage area and attempted to enter restricted zones near a separate counter-demonstration of about 5,000 people organized by Stand Up to Racism, police said.
"When officers moved in to stop them they faced unacceptable violence," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "They were assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown."
Police deployed approximately 1,000 officers from multiple forces to keep the rival groups separated. Authorities said they identified many more people who committed offenses and vowed to pursue arrests "even if it is not possible to do so today."
Robinson, 42, who has multiple criminal convictions and has spent years promoting anti-Muslim and anti-migrant messaging, told the crowd: "The silent majority will be silent no longer. Today is the spark of a cultural revolution."
The demonstration featured speakers from across Europe and North America, including Elon Musk via video link, French politician Eric Zemmour, and Petr Bystron of Germany's Alternative for Germany party.
"You're in a fundamental situation here," Musk told attendees, claiming "the left is the party of murder and celebrating murder. Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die."
The event was livestreamed to more than one million online viewers, according to organizers.
The dueling demonstrations reflect growing anti-immigration sentiment in Britain, where Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party leads in some polls and protesters have targeted hotels housing asylum seekers.
Philip Dodge, a retired baker from Sheffield who attended with his wife, said he was concerned about restrictions on discussing immigration and gender issues. "Everyday in the papers you read things and you're being left stunned — arresting people because they dared to talk about immigration or gender issues," he told news outlets.
Another attendee, 28-year-old Ritchie, who gave only his first name, called record immigration levels "an invasion" and described Robinson as "a hero."
At the counter-protest, veteran Labour lawmaker Diane Abbott accused Robinson and his allies of spreading "dangerous" lies about asylum seekers. "We need to be in solidarity with asylum seekers, and we need to show that we are united," she told Sky News.
The rally occurred amid broader debates over free speech restrictions in Britain. The government has faced criticism for banning the Palestine Action group in July, leading to hundreds of arrests of peaceful protesters under anti-terrorism laws.
The recent arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan for allegedly insulting transgender people online has also drawn widespread criticism from free speech advocates.
Saturday's demonstration came just over a year after anti-immigration riots swept several British cities, which authorities accused Robinson of fueling through inflammatory social media posts.
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