Thousands March in London for Far-Right and Pro-Palestine Causes

Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday, with two separate demonstrations taking place simultaneously. A pro-Palestine rally and a far-right event organized by Tommy Robinson drew large crowds, prompting a significant police presence.

The UK Metropolitan Police deployed 4,000 officers, including reinforcements from outside the city, to manage the protests. Armored vehicles, horses, dogs, drones, and helicopters were also used to maintain order. By 12:00 GMT, police had made 11 arrests for various offenses.

Authorities had imposed conditions on both rallies to prevent rival attendees from coming into contact with each other. Prosecutors were advised to consider whether certain protest materials or chants could be considered hate crimes. The Crown Prosecution Service’s director stated that the goal was to prevent hate crime and protect the public, particularly during times of heightened tensions.

The police operation is estimated to cost £4.5 million. Organizers of the far-right event were made legally responsible for ensuring invited speakers did not break hate speech laws. Eleven foreign nationals were barred from entering the country for the event, including Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski and Belgian politician Filip Dewinter.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that anyone attempting to cause harm or intimidate people would face the full force of the law. He also criticized the organizers of the far-right rally, calling them “peddlers of hatred and division.”

Source: Al Jazeera