EDL founder Tommy Robinson escorted from anti-Semitism rally as thousands gather

Tens of thousands of people marched through London to campaign against anti-Semitism, while English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was led away by police - Anila Dhami reports

Tens of thousands of people attended a major march against anti-Semitism in London, while English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson was escorted away by police.

Officers confirmed a 40-year-old man had been arrested close to the Royal Courts of Justice, not far from where the demonstration began in the city on Sunday. Former prime minister Boris Johnson also joined the gathering, which took place a day after pro-Palestinian crowds gathered in the capital to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

A temporary truce between Hamas and Israel is still holding, with the release of a third group of hostages was confirmed on Sunday afternoon.

The Met Police confirmed one other arrest was made during Sunday's demonstration, after a man was heard making anti-Semitic comments.

There had been fears that Mr Robinson - real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, the former leader of the far-right grouping - could disrupt the protest organised by charity Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Robinson, 40, had previously been seen among the crowds of counter-protesters who clashed with police during ceasefire protests held on Armistice Day. On Sunday, he was seen arguing with officers for about 10 minutes outside a coffee shop opposite the Royal Courts of Justice. He was then led away from the scene. In a statement, the Met Police said: “We have been in frequent contact with the organisers of the march in recent days. “They have been clear about their concerns that the man’s attendance, and that of those who were likely to accompany him, would cause fear for other participants. “The same view has been voiced by others. “As a result, he was spoken to and warned on more than one occasion that his continued presence in the area was likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to others. “He was directed to leave the area but refused to do so.”

The Metropolitan Police had made clear in advance that he was “not welcome” at the march, with the force warning that any offences “whether from within the protest or from any groups trying to challenge or interfere with the march” would be dealt with.

Police later confirmed a 40-year-old man had been arrested close to the Royal Courts of Justice. It has not been confirmed if the man referred to in the statement is Mr Robinson.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick and security minister Tom Tugendhat joined celebrities including Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and Robert Rinder at the march, which saw marchers join in singing as they proceeded through the city.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis was among those at the front the crowd, as marchers waved Israeli and Union flags, and placards reading “Never Again Is Now” and “Zero Tolerance for Antisemites”. Organisers called the rally the largest gathering against anti-Semitism London had seen since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists through an area populated by many Jewish families. It was organised amid concern about rising tensions sparked by the conflict in Gaza. Gideon Falter, the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said that the rally came after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that had made the capital a “no-go zone for Jews”.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday for the latest demonstration demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, with some demonstrators accusing Israel of committing genocide and others chanting “from the river to the sea”. There were 18 arrests made over the course of the day for a range of alleged offences – including suspicion of inciting racial hatred and suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.

Organisers Stop the War coalition said that attendees at the now-regular marches have “clear anti-racist foundations” and oppose both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. It had asked anyone attending Saturday’s rally to “respect these clear anti-racist principles, including in any signs or placards they choose to bring to the march”.

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