Met Police vows robust action as Tommy Robinson march and counter protest take place in central London

Hundreds of constabulary are gearing up to respond “swiftly and decisively” arsenic a ample protestation by supporters of Tommy Robinson and a counter-demonstration instrumentality spot successful cardinal London connected Saturday.

Far-right activists volition request the merchandise of Robinson, existent sanction Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is successful solitary confinement successful situation aft committing contempt of court.

Under the banners “Free Tommy, “Stop the Isolation” and “Unite the Kingdom”, they program to stitchery extracurricular Waterloo Station from midday earlier marching towards Whitehall via Westminster Bridge.

A static assembly volition past instrumentality spot successful Parliament Street arsenic Metropolitan Police officers effort to support them abstracted from a protestation organised by Stand Up To Racism astir Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket and Trafalgar Square.

Tourists and shoppers are encouraged to usage different routes to debar the area.

Elon Musk - who is supporting Robinson connected his societal media tract X, formerly Twitter - this period launched a slew of attacks connected Sir Keir Starmer and different Labour figures.

The South African-born billionaire’s meddling successful British authorities began him hitting retired astatine the Prime Minister’s grounds of prosecuting kid grooming gangs. Sir Keir said those “spreading misinformation are not funny successful the victims”.

Commander Louise Puddefoot, who is successful complaint of the weekend’s policing operation, said: “We are good prepared for these protests, having been successful discussions with some sets of organisers successful caller weeks.

“We person officers deployed successful important numbers to supply reassurance to the wider community, and to springiness america the capableness to intervene swiftly and decisively if incidents of transgression oregon upset occur.

“Decisions connected our policing benignant astatine protests, including the types of azygous worn by officers and the protective instrumentality disposable to them, are taken connected a lawsuit by lawsuit basis. It allows america to beryllium acceptable to respond rapidly and decisively wherever we request to.

“Our appraisal for tomorrow’s protest, based connected the accusation disposable to us, is that an further level of preparedness is required.

“What our officers are wearing oregon the protective kit they are carrying doesn’t alteration their relation astatine these events.

“They are determination to guarantee each progressive tin workout their close to protestation peacefully, without causing superior disruption to the beingness of the wider assemblage and without risking the upset that could instrumentality spot if groups with opposing views travel together.”

An admin station connected Robinson’s X relationship alleged: “Tomorrow we marque a stand. Meeting astatine 12pm, Waterloo Station.

“We volition proceed to Downing Street. Stand against the governmental persecution and isolation of Tommy Robinson. Visitors are present being denied introduction to spot him. First they came for Tommy.”

Stand Up To Racism pointed to caller Islamophobic attacks successful London and elsewhere.

Spokesman Leanne Mohamad said: “Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has go the starring defender of Tommy Robinson and is spreading unsafe lies. Robinson has been boosted by each of this.

“We indispensable thrust the far-right disconnected our streets. We volition not beryllium intimidated.”