London police say officers arrested 43 people during two marches Saturday in London – one organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and a counter-demonstration fused with a pro-Palestinian protest. Robinson, co-founder of the English Defence League called on his supporters to prepare for the next "battle of Britain".
Issued on: 17/05/2026 - 13:55Modified: 17/05/2026 - 13:56
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More than 4,000 police officers were deployed in London, the biggest operation in years by the city's Metropolitan Police, to manage a so-called "sterile zone" between Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" march and the anti-fascism rally organised by the Stand Up to Racism group. The latter had combined its protests with those marking Nakba Day, which commemorates the displacement of Palestinians during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948-49. The huge operation cost an estimated £4.5m.
A protester brandishes the "we will return" message linked to Nakba Day on the pro-Palestine march in London. AP Photo/Thomas Krych - Thomas Krych
