More than 100,000 people marched through central London in one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in modern UK history, prompting police clashes and political uproar.
Tens of thousands of protesters waving Union and St George's flags surged through Whitehall on Saturday in a rally branded "Unite the Kingdom", led by anti-immigrant figure Tommy Robinson. London's Metropolitan Police estimated the turnout at around 110,000, describing it as too large for the authorised march route.
Police said violence erupted when officers attempted to control the crowds, facing punches, kicks, and objects, including bottles and flares. Nine people were arrested, but authorities said many more would likely follow as investigations continue.
The march coincided with widespread discontent over immigration. Demonstrators chanted anti-migrant slogans and targeted Prime Minister Keir Starmer in placards and speeches. Several protesters wore red MAGA hats and carried American and Israeli flags. Children were also seen among the attendees.
Robinson declared the rally a “cultural revolution”, claiming it marked a turning point for Britain. In a remote message, billionaire Elon Musk called for a change of government and criticised limits on free speech.
Though Reform UK distanced itself from Robinson, the party’s recent polling strength has added fuel to anti-migration sentiment. Attendee Sandra Mitchell said, “We want our country back. We believe in Tommy.”
Meanwhile, around 5,000 counter-protesters with “Stand Up to Racism” gathered nearby. Teacher Ben Hetchin said, “The idea of hate is dividing us. Welcoming people makes us stronger.”
Police deployed more than 1,600 officers across the capital, also covering major football games and concerts.
Britain has recorded over 28,000 Channel crossings by migrants this year. Nationalist symbols and painted flags have grown more visible in towns, raising concern among anti-racism groups that patriotic displays are being used to mask hostility toward foreigners.
Six people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, authorities said, as firefighte...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights and restoring citizenship to stateless Kurds, as government f...
The world is entering a more unstable and fragmented phase as global cooperation declines and rivalry between major powers intensifies, the World Econ...
The Trump administration has denied a report that countries would be required to pay $1bn to join a proposed U.S.-backed peace initiative, after Bloom...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know....
British Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Friday to attend the 100-Year Partnership Forum and meet Ukrainian leaders, highlighting ongoing cooperation between London and Kyiv.
The UK economy grew more strongly than expected in November, according to official figures, offering signs of resilience after months of weak performance.
The U.S. and UK are reducing personnel at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base as President Donald Trump weighs possible action against Iran over its violent crackdown on protesters.
The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with services now operating remotely, the government announced Wednesday.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Tens of thousands of users were left unable to access Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Friday, with outages reported across multiple countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Armenia has reaffirmed that it has no intention of taking any actions directed against Iran, with senior officials stressing that relations with Tehran remain friendly and constructive.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 16 January, offering Russia’s help to mediate tensions and promote dialogue in the Middle East.
Ashley St. Clair, mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s company xAI, alleging that its AI tool Grok generated explicit images of her, including one portraying her as underage.
Six people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, authorities said, as firefighters battled through the night to contain the blaze.
The world is entering a more unstable and fragmented phase as global cooperation declines and rivalry between major powers intensifies, the World Economic Forum has warned.
The Trump administration has denied a report that countries would be required to pay $1bn to join a proposed U.S.-backed peace initiative, after Bloomberg News said a draft charter set out a membership fee.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a sweeping new round of tariffs on several European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a diplomatic row over the Danish Arctic territory.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment