🧵 | Updates on today's policing operation for protests and other events will be posted on this thread.
Further details, including the Public Order Act conditions that are in place to prevent serious disruption, can be found on our website. news.met.police.uk/news/met-sets-…
Some flyers online suggest the Stand Up To Racism march will finish in Trafalgar Square. This isn't the case. There are conditions requiring it to finish in Whitehall.
We need to keep opposing groups apart to keep the peace. We'll take action against any breaches of conditions.
The march organised by Tommy Robinson set off from the Royal Courts of Justice shortly before 1pm. The front of the march is now at Trafalgar Square where a rally will take place. The rear of the march remains on the Strand.
So far there have been no incidents or arrests.
The march organised by Stand Up To Racism left Russell Square at around 1.30pm as planned. It's now heading along Victoria Embankment towards Whitehall where speeches will take place.
There is a visible police presence across central London. So far there have been no incidents.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of GBH level assault following an incident in Victoria Embankment Gardens where a participant in the Stand Up To Racism protest was assaulted.
The victim sustained a head injury. He was given first aid by officers and will be taken to hospital to be checked.
We are aware of some suggestions on social media that the arrests were related to the carrying of a flag which is not the case.
The protest organised by Tommy Robinson has now ended.
Nearby pubs are busy with people who had been at the protest and officers will remain in the area to keep people safe and to respond to any incidents.
So far today there have been five arrests:
1 member of the public arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at Trans Pride.
2 men arrested on suspicion of GBH after a Stand Up To Racism protester was assaulted.
1 man arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a racially aggravated public order offence after he allegedly snapped a Palestinian flag and made a racially abusive remark.
1 man arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked.
A further four people have been arrested outside a pub in Whitehall on suspicion of assault on emergency workers. Four officers were assaulted. Fortunately none sustained serious injuries.
That brings the number of protest/event related arrests so far to nine.
During the day a number of videos have been shared online showing chanting within the crowd. The language in some of them was racist and anti-Muslim.
It isn't always possible for officers to intervene in the moment, particularly within large crowds. They have to balance the risk that their intervention leads to disorder and consider the safety of those nearby and of officers.
However, that doesn't stop investigations taking place after events have finished to identify suspects and any offences. These videos are being investigated.
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