Two major protests are set to take place in London, with the Metropolitan Police warning it may be one of its busiest days in recent years. Tens of thousands of people are expected to march for Unite the Kingdom, an event organized by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, alongside the annual pro-Palestine Nakba Day march.
Massive Police Operation
The Met is deploying over 4,000 officers to police both events, a scale of operation described as 'unprecedented in recent years.' The force fears that far-right demonstrators may clash with pro-Palestine marchers if not kept apart. Officers will be equipped with riot gear, drones for suspect scanning, and live facial recognition cameras.
Rising Hate Crime Concerns
The protests come amid growing concern over rising hate crime levels, particularly antisemitism in Britain. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated earlier this month that there may be grounds to ban some protests, and those chanting slogans like 'globalise the intifada' should face prosecution. He pledged to use the 'full power of the state' to crack down on antisemitism following an April stabbing in North London that left two Jewish men hospitalized.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman noted heightened fears in Jewish communities and increased concerns in Muslim communities. 'Taken together, these factors give us significant cause for concern heading into the weekend,' he said.
Terrorism Threat Level Raised
The UK's terrorism threat level was raised to severe at the start of May. Jonathan Hall, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, stated that antisemitism is now the 'biggest national security emergency' in nearly a decade.
On Friday, the UK government banned 11 foreign far-right agitators from entering the country ahead of the Unite the Kingdom march.
Previous Event Draws Large Crowd
Yaxley-Lennon's previous Unite the Kingdom event last September drew at least 100,000 people. Harman noted that while many attendees were peaceful, there were clashes with police and incidents of anti-Muslim hate speech, resulting in several arrests for violence.
Additional Pressure from FA Cup Final
Pressure on police will be further heightened as tens of thousands of football fans are also expected in London on Saturday for the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
