UK police detail arrests after far-right rally, counter demo

LONDON — London police said Sunday officers arrested 20 people the previous day at a march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and 12 people at a counter-demonstration fused with a pro-Palestinian protest.

The city's Metropolitan Police — which had already disclosed making 43 arrests Saturday after tens of thousands people attended the duelling events — added 11 of those detained were either non-affiliated or their links was unconfirmed.

The force had mounted its biggest operation in years to manage Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" march and the anti-fascism rally organised by the Stand Up to Racism group combined with protests marking Nakba Day.

It commemorates the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.

Police had feared clashes after violent confrontations at Robinson's last London event in September, when up to 150,000 people turned out, and various incidents at dozens of pro-Palestine demonstrations since 2023.

In its update Sunday, the Met said there were 11 arrests for hate crime related offences, with nine of those at the Unite the Kingdom e