Thousands of police officers are preparing for an “unprecedented” security operation to avoid clashes between Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march and the pro-Palestine “Nakba Day” rally in London.
Police estimate about 80,000 people will attend the marches, with thousands of football fans also in the capital for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, making it one of the busiest policing days in years.
Around 4,000 officers are expected to be on duty on Saturday, with 660 being drafted in from forces outside the Met. Armoured vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters will also be on hand.
The justice secretary, David Lammy, said the organisers of the Unite the Kingdom rally “are spreading hatred and division”.
While law-abiding protesters will be protected, anyone attempting to “break the law and create chaos” should expect to “feel the full force of the law”, Downing Street has said.
The operation is taking place against a backdrop of increased antisemitism, concerns within Jewish and Muslim communities, and a severe terrorism threat level.
Two wanted men attending Tommy Robinson rally arrested at Euston over unrelated incident
The Metropolitan Police said it had made two arrests at Euston Station of two people who had arrived for the Unite the Kingdom protest over an unrelated incident in Birmingham.
The force said: “Officers have made two arrests in the vicinity of Euston station.
“Two men, wanted on suspicion of GBH following an incident in Birmingham where a man was run over, were spotted arriving into London to attend the UTK protest.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 12:13
Watch: ‘Unprecedented’ police operation in capital as tens of thousands to protest
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 12:04
Starmer’s independent adviser on antisemitism calls for march organisers to take ‘responsibility’ for what speakers say
Lord Mann told the BBC’s Today programme that how the police manage the marches was “very important”.
But he added: “The organisers of the demonstration should ensure that the people that they platform, give a microphone to, in front of how many thousands of people… (they) have a responsibility to ensure that their speakers stay within the law.”He added that that should be true “whether it is a far-right demonstration… Or any other demonstration”.
Protests begin in London
Here are some more images at the two rival marches begin:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:55
Corybn, Abbott, McDonnell
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will join John McDonnell and Diane Abbott in today’s march to commemorate the Palestinian Nakba.
Mr Corbyn said: “It’s very important that we understand and remember the brutal history of the way the Palestinian people have been treated by the British before the Nakba…”
Meaning “Day of the Catastrophe”, Nakba Day is when Palestinians mark the displacement of Palestinians that occurred around the Israeli Declaration of Independence and the 1948 war.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:50
‘Spreading hatred and division’
The justice secretary, David Lammy, has said the organisers of the Unite the Kingdom rally taking place today “are spreading hatred and division”.
Writing on X, he added: “They do not reflect the Britain I’m proud of.
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right and one I will always protect. But if protest turns violent, we will act swiftly, with extra court capacity in place.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:45
‘Those leading today’s march hate Britain’
Treasury minister Torsten Bell has hit out at the Unite the Kingdom rally
Mr Bell, MP for Swansea West, messaged on X: “People march for many reasons.
“But those leading today’s march hate Britain.
“Hate our diverse country.
“Hate even more the fact that far right, bot fuelled social media clicks are not enough to overcome the reality of a decent country.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:36
Images of the ‘Unite the Kingdom rally
We have some images coming in of people gathering for the Unite the Kingdom rally
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:32
Protesters begin to gather
People have started to gather in South Kensington ahead of a pro-Palestine counter-protest Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally.
In Exhibition Road, which houses entrances to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum, protesters are carrying Palestine flags and signs reading “Stop the far right”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:24
The public on Tommy Robinson
Nationally, Tommy Robinson is seen negatively by 47 per cent of adults across all voter groups, compared to 17 per cent who have a positive opinion of him.
But, according to the recent poll for Politico by Public First, which questioned more than 2,000 people , 36 per cent of Reform UK voters have a “very” or “somewhat” positive view of Robinson. About as many Reform supporters — 31 percent — had a negative view of him.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain16 May 2026 11:10NewerOlder