Large-scale actions by far-right and pro-Palestinian activists took place in central London, gathering thousands of participants and one of the largest police operations in recent years. Against the backdrop of a tense situation, authorities deployed more than 4,000 police officers to the streets, utilizing drones, mounted police, and facial recognition systems.
On Saturday in London, amid a significant police presence, thousands of people gathered for a march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and for a counter-demonstration that merged with a pro-Palestinian protest.
This was reported by the BBC, as noted by bb.lv.
More than 4,000 police officers were deployed to the capital to control the so-called "sterile zone" between the two marches. Law enforcement is also using drones, horses, and dogs, while armored vehicles are on standby.
The Metropolitan Police described this operation as one of the largest in recent years.
In addition to the protests, tens of thousands of football fans are heading to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final, which will take place on Saturday afternoon.
Participants of the "Unite the Kingdom" march, organized by Robinson, marched towards Parliament Square. Many waved British flags, and shouts of "We want Starmer out" could be heard from the crowd.
Some protesters wore red caps with the slogan "Make England Great Again." Among them were those who want the current government to resign, as well as those who believe that white people, particularly from the working class, are being discriminated against in the UK today.
A separate pro-Palestinian march began in Kensington. Among the participants, flags and placards with slogans such as "Destroy the Far-Right" and "Free Palestinian Hostages" could be seen.
The day before the marches, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police James Harman stated that the police operation would cost law enforcement £4.5 million.
The Metropolitan Police stated that risks prompted them to implement a "highest level of control," including the use of real-time facial recognition cameras.
It is worth noting that the UK denied entry to Petr Bystron, a Member of the European Parliament from the far-right party Alternative for Germany, who was supposed to participate in the far-right rally in London.
According to the editorial, what is happening in London shows how deep the political and social contradictions in Europe are becoming. At the same time, tensions surrounding migration, the war in the Middle East, and domestic politics in Western countries are rising, while mass actions increasingly demand unprecedented security measures and become a test for authorities and society.
