Violence Erupts at Tommy Robinson’s London March; 26 Officers Injured, 25 Arrests Made

A mass far-right rally led by activist Tommy Robinson in central London descended into violence on Saturday, leaving 26 police officers injured and resulting in 25 arrests after clashes broke out between protesters and security forces.

According to the Metropolitan Police, disorder began when sections of Robinson’s supporters attempted to storm barriers separating them from a counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism, which drew an estimated 5,000 participants. Officers were punched, kicked, and pelted with bottles, forcing the deployment of riot units with shields and helmets.

Four officers sustained serious injuries, including broken teeth, a concussion, a suspected broken nose, and a spinal injury.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist condemned the violence, stressing that while many attendees demonstrated peacefully, “there were many who came intent on violence… confronting officers with abuse and making determined efforts to breach cordons.”

Police estimated the far-right rally’s turnout at 110,000–150,000, marking one of the largest such gatherings in recent UK history. Organisers branded it the “Unite the Kingdom” march, promoting it as a free-speech event but dominated by anti-immigration rhetoric.

Robinson—born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—hailed the crowd size as a “tidal wave of patriotism” and declared the protest a “cultural revolution.” The demonstration attracted far-right figures from across Europe, including French politician Éric Zemmour, who invoked the conspiracy of a “great replacement” of European populations.

Billionaire Elon Musk also addressed the rally by video, urging political change in Britain and claiming citizens were “scared to exercise their free speech.”

Despite the scale of the march, mainstream right-wing party Reform UK distanced itself from Robinson, citing his history of criminal convictions and his controversial leadership of the anti-Islam English Defence League.

Counter-protesters accused the march of fuelling division. “The idea of hate is dividing us, and the more we welcome people, the stronger we are as a country,” said Ben Hetchin, a teacher attending the rival demonstration.

More than 1,600 officers were deployed across London to manage the march alongside other major events, including football fixtures and concerts. Police said investigations into Saturday’s violence remain ongoing.