Tommy Robinson supporters draped in flags have gathered in London,chanting the name of Charlie Kirk at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march.
One of the large-scale protests in central London today has been organised by Tommy Robinson,whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the far-right activist’s ‘free-speech’ rally at Whitehall.
Follow live updates from the Stand Up To Racism and Tommy Robinson protests
Crowds are also due to form at the counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism.
Crowds with people draped in flags are starting to gather for the Tommy Robinson march in London today (Picture: Metropolitan Police)
Tommy Robinson supporters are gathering in central London (Picture: Anadolu/Getty Images)
People have started to gather near the meeting location for the Tommy Robinson march,with hundreds of people draped in St George’s and Union Jack flags.
Chants of ‘Charlie,Charlie’ were heard as a photo of the assassinated right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was paraded through the crowd.
Met Police commented on the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest as people were arriving: ‘We’re using a mobile CCTV van to help monitor the buildup of crowds. Officers have been asked if it’s using ‘live facial recognition’ – we can confirm it is not.’
Tommy Robinson supporters held up Charlie Kirk’s picture,who was shot and killed in Utah (Picture: EPA)
The ‘Unite the Kingdom’ supporters arrived with flags (Picture: Isaac Crowson)
The Met Police has brought in hundreds of reinforcements from other forces,with over 1,000 officers deployed in the capital.
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro's London news hub.
The police sought to reassure London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘United Kingdom’ protest given the record of ‘anti-Muslimi rhetoric.’
Here is the route for the Tommy Robinson rally today.
The Tommy Robinson march will start from near Waterloo and finish at Whitehall today (Picture: Metro)
Tommy Robinson has organised a ‘free speech’ rally called ‘Unite the Kingdom’ in London today (Picture: Lucy North/PA Wire)
The Tommy Robinson march is set to start at 11am from Stamford Street off the IMAX roundabout south of Waterloo Bridge.
They will then head down along York Road before going down on Westminster Bridge past Big Ben and turn towards the southern end of Whitehall,where the rally will take place.
The rally must wrap up by 6pm and participants must stay in the designated area,the police said.
Thousands of people are also expected to attend the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest (Picture: Lucy North/PA Wire)
Meanwhile,the Stand Up To Racism counter-demonstration will start from Russell Square,with protesters walking past Covent Garden,Trafalgar Square and finishing at the northern end of Whitehall.
The SUTR protest has to conclude by 4pm,the police said.
A map shows where the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest will start and finish at (Picture: Metro)
A Met Police commander has issued a reassurance to London Muslim communities ahead of the far-right rally in London today.
Commander Clair Haynes said: ‘We recognise that there are particular concerns for many in London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest given the record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches.
‘There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday,including not coming into town. That is not our advice. Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.’
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