Violence erupted in central London as Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally descended into attacks from flag-wearing thugs on police and counter-protesters.
Protesters were spotted arriving on blacked-out buses this morning, with some coming from the other side of the world to attend the march. One man told a PA reporter he had flown in from New Zealand with “about 100 of my warriors” to join the protest.
Whipping up the crowd were right-wing figures, many of whom are actually American. Elon Musk appeared via video link to address Robinson’s supporters.
“There’s this genuine risk of rape and murder and the destruction of the country and the dissolution of the entire way of life,” said the world’s richest man. “The left is the party of murder and celebrating murder,” said Musk. “I mean, let that sink in for a minute, that’s who we’re dealing with here.”
Police in riot gear were called in and the Metropolitan Police said nine arrests had been made at 5pm on Saturday. Protesters spilled out from Whitehall and tried to enter cordoned off areas.
“When officers moved in to stop them they faced unacceptable violence,” said the Met. “They were assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown.”
Police have been attempting to keep the Stand Up to Racism counter protesters safe as “officers are continuing to face aggression in multiple locations”.
Officers are having to intervene in multiple locations to stop Unite the Kingdom protesters trying to access sterile areas, breach police cordons or get to opposing groups.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 13, 2025
A number of officers have been assaulted. pic.twitter.com/QcQ5EyN2Pw
Shocking footage on X shows police officers desperately trying to hold back a crowd of flag-waving protesters. They let women in Union Jack mini dresses through before the crowd surges forward pushing the police to the floor.
Police try to stop #UniteTheKingdom protesters going the route the police GAVE them to walk but the British heavily outnumbering the police push through the line. British men are waking up, they don't fear police. #TommyRobinson #london #reform pic.twitter.com/JEMP5pDX4K
— Jamie (@Jamie69660989) September 13, 2025
An unidentified man was photographed on the ground where Whitehall meets Trafalgar Square with blood gushing from a head wound as police attended to him.
There were also reports of protesters in Trafalgar Square draped in flags, climbing Nelson’s Column and swilling beer.
A video posted on X shows the landmark in the backdrop as police in helmets wield batons to push back protestors draped in flags. One protester can be heard screaming “F*** off to Gaza”.
Kicking off in london - Punches and clashes between protesters in london today - police trying to do their best but so many protesters on the street …. pic.twitter.com/A103d8g7SK
— Paul Brown 🇬🇧 Browns fan🏈 London News 🎥Vlogger (@PaulBrown_UK) September 13, 2025
Another video from another side of Trafalgar Square leading down to Whitehall shows Unite the Kingdom protesters with flags around their waists and shoulders lunging at Stand Up to Racism protesters before mounted police get their horses in between them.
Footage taken from another angle with the Trafalgar Theatre to the right shows Unite the Kingdom protesters grappling with police and swearing at them as they are pushed back.
This was so predictable.pic.twitter.com/acQISE8sro
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) September 13, 2025
“The far right came to London today to start a riot,” Stand Up to Racism posted on X. “It was a rally organised by fascist #TommyRobinson to build a far right street movement. And no surprise it turned violent.”
BREAKING: far right thugs attack anti-fascists in Whitehall. Are these the “concerned ordinary people” we’ve heard so much about? Or are they far right thugs. #StandUptoRacism pic.twitter.com/0rkMf5BxmM
— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) September 13, 2025
Unite the Kingdom protesters have been calling for more violence. Evolve Politics shared a video interview with a man in a Fred Perry shirt calling for Keir Starmer to be murdered. “Keir Starmer needs to be assassinated,” says the man. “Someone needs to shoot Keir Starmer.”
Photos are also circulating on social media of men, one wearing a St George’s flag, urinating in bushes.
Unite the Kingdom pic.twitter.com/Fg9NQttJx2
— Ferret (@Ferretgrove) September 13, 2025
El Haq Latief, a nonbinary southeast asian actor currently performing in Cabaret on the Strand, took to TikTok to document their horror at the protests as they prepared to perform.
@masc4mask it’s a really really sad day for uk.
♬ original sound - El Haq Latief
“This is actually disgusting behaviour,” they said, sharing footage of young children draped in Union Jack flags. “And I’m literally doing a show... about this.” Cabaret is, of course, a musical about the rise of the far right in Germany before the Second World War.
Keir Starmer is yet to make an official statement about the disorder. The Prime Minister is currently attending an Arsenal match at the Emirates.
