London police detained dozens of individuals during opposing demonstrations held last week involving far-right “Unite the Kingdom” supporters and pro-Palestinian activists. The Metropolitan Police deployed approximately 4,000 officers to manage security and maintain separation between the groups.

The far-right rally, led by nationalist figure Tommy Robinson, attracted around 60,000 participants—substantially fewer than the one million he had anticipated. Authorities arrested about 20 participants at this event on charges including racist and homophobic hate speech. Robinson, who recently adopted a Christian faith during a prison term, addressed the crowd with messages reflecting this change, though some observers noted that his religious emphasis appeared to distance portions of his traditional base. Nick Lowles of the anti-racism organization Hope Not Hate commented that Robinson seemed to target an American audience with his remarks.

Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian march saw roughly a dozen arrests. Among those detained, several faced allegations of anti-Jewish hate speech. Police also arrested one individual for displaying a sign with the phrase “Globalize the intifada.”

The police operation underscored the challenges of managing large-scale, ideologically opposed protests in London, where concerns about public order and community tensions remain high.