Four people arrested as thousands gather for Tommy Robinson's protest while he remains in custody

Thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters have gathering in central London for a planned protest which he will miss after he was remanded in custody by police on Saturday.

Chants of “Oh Tommy, Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” were heard outside Victoria station ahead of the Unite The Kingdom rally on Saturday.

Some demonstrators carried placards reading “Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the Boats” signs, some of whom were drinking cans and glasses of alcohol.

Two arrests have been made at the protest, one on suspicion of a breach of the Public Order Act conditions in place and an alleged breach of the peace, and one on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, the Metropolitan Police said.

The demonstration has been met with a counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism, which has called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.

Two arrests were made near the Stand Up to Racism protest with one woman arrested on suspicion of common assault and another arrest was made after an officer was allegedly assaulted, the force added.

Hundreds have also gathered in Trafalgar Square for the planned United Families and Friends Campaign protest, with activists holding signs reading “No justice”, “no-one forgotten, nothing forgiven” and “no to hatred, no to fascism”.

The family and friends of Chris Kaba, who was fatally shot by police marksman Martyn Blake, who was cleared of murder on Monday, have attended the march.

Five family members, including one relative of Mr Kaba, arrived at Downing Street dressed in black with a hand-written note addressed to Sir Keir Starmer.

They knocked on the door and handed it to a security guard.

Speaking outside Number 10, the families who delivered a hand-written note to Keir Starmer, said: “Families are indefinitely traumatised and impacted on their wellbeing by the hands of the state … this is a vexed question and we want it settled amicably. Everybody has the right to life and so do the families.

“And we’re traumatised and it’s painful every time we hear of another death. The families must never be forgotten.”

The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of being in contempt of court after the airing of a film at a protest in Trafalgar Square in July.

He attended Folkestone police station on Friday where he was separately charged with failing to provide his mobile phone access code to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.

Robinson is due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday for a two-day hearing concerning allegations that he breached a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him.

It is understood the airing of a film, titled Silenced, at the Trafalgar Square demonstration is one of six actions alleged to have breached the injunction between June and July.

The film is also pinned to the top of his X account.

The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police are due to be supported by officers from other forces across the country and the Met said there will be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups are kept apart.

The protest organised by Robinson is due to march from Victoria station to the southern end of Whitehall, while the counter-protest will begin at Regent Street St James’s and finish at the north end of Whitehall.

The Met said static rallies are expected at the end of both marches.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams, who is leading the policing operation, said: “We are well prepared for what is set to be a busy day in the centre of London.

“Our role is to ensure that those attending the various events can do so safely and that they can exercise their right to lawful protest.

“We will have significant resources in place to respond to any incidents, to deal decisively with any offences, and to keep disruption to other members of the public and businesses to a minimum."

She added: “We know that when groups with opposing views come together it can lead to conflict and disorder, and a key part of our role is ensuring that does not happen.

“We have used Public Order Act conditions to ensure that those involved stick to routes and assembly areas that are sufficiently far apart. Officers will be monitoring closely to ensure that conditions are adhered to.”

It is understood that Robinson will be held in custody in Folkestone until his court hearing on Monday.

He was released on unconditional bail in July and subsequently left the country, with Adam Payter, representing the Solicitor General, telling the High Court there “was nothing to prevent him from doing so”.

Mr Justice Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest but ordered that it not be carried out “until early October” to allow Robinson time to indicate that he would attend the next hearing voluntarily or to apply to “set aside” the warrant.

Robinson posted a video of himself arriving at Luton Airport on October 20 and said he was surprised he had not been arrested.

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