24
Oct 2024
10:50 UTC
UK Tactical: Far-right protest march, left-wing counter-protest to take place in central London from 11:00 (local time) on October 26; avoid non-essential travel
Current Situation
- Reports indicate that a protest march by far-right activists and counter-protests by various left-wing groups will take place in London on October 26. Details regarding these are as follows:
- Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right, nationalist, and anti-Islam activist, has called his supporters to join a protest march starting from Victoria Station in London at 11:00 (local time) on October 26.
- Following the initial gathering, protesters will begin their march towards Parliament Square at 13:00, for the concluding rally. However, the exact route of this march is not yet confirmed.
- This protest is being held to denounce the death of Peter Lynch while serving a prison sentence for his involvement in violent unrest in Rotherham in August, and to denounce the UK government’s alleged pressurizing of “good people to plead guilty to non-existent crimes.”
Source: X/Twitter
- Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right, nationalist, and anti-Islam activist, has called his supporters to join a protest march starting from Victoria Station in London at 11:00 (local time) on October 26.
- Following the initial gathering, protesters will begin their march towards Parliament Square at 13:00, for the concluding rally. However, the exact route of this march is not yet confirmed.
- This protest is being held to denounce the death of Peter Lynch while serving a prison sentence for his involvement in violent unrest in Rotherham in August, and to denounce the UK government’s alleged pressurizing of “good people to plead guilty to non-existent crimes.”
Source: X/Twitter
- In response to this rally, left-wing and anti-racism activists associated with multiple groups and labor unions, including Stand Up To Racism, Unison Union, Stop the War Coalition among others, will hold a counter-protest near Piccadilly Circus in London starting at 11:30 on the same day.
- The counter-protesters are also slated to hold a march following their initial gathering; however, the exact route of this march and its concluding location are not yet confirmed.
Source: X/Twitter
- In response to this rally, left-wing and anti-racism activists associated with multiple groups and labor unions, including Stand Up To Racism, Unison Union, Stop the War Coalition among others, will hold a counter-protest near Piccadilly Circus in London starting at 11:30 on the same day.
- The counter-protesters are also slated to hold a march following their initial gathering; however, the exact route of this march and its concluding location are not yet confirmed.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and social media estimates, the slated far-right protest and left-wing counter-demonstration are expected to attract turnout in the range of high thousands to low tens of thousands each.
- As such, a bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed near the aforementioned protest locations and throughout central London as a precautionary measure as well as to keep the far-right and left-wing demonstrators separate to avoid confrontation. The possibility of police implementing roadblocks and erecting barricades in central London areas, especially in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts, also remains.
- Regardless, given the heightened sentiments around the protest issues and the proximity between the two protests, they carry an especially heightened risk of unrest, including clashes between protesters, counter-protesters, and the police. With larger turnouts, the risk of violent escalation also increases, posing a threat of physical injury, vandalism, and property damage near these protests. Additionally, the likely presence of far-right extremist elements, including the members of the far-right English Defense League (EDL), at the Tommy Robinson protest increases the risk of assaults or attacks targeting minorities, especially against individuals who are visibly Muslim.
- In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are expected to respond with forcible crowd dispersal methods, including the use of tear gas and water cannons, as well as conducting mass arrests to manage crowds.
- Significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, including road closures and alterations to public transport services, can be anticipated in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts of London from morning hours due to the slated protests.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Central London on October 26 are advised to avoid non-essential travel in the vicinity of Victoria Station, Parliament Square, and Piccadilly Circus from the morning hours due to the elevated risk of violent unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel in central London, especially in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts, due to the slated protests.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
London, UK
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- Reports indicate that a protest march by far-right activists and counter-protests by various left-wing groups will take place in London on October 26. Details regarding these are as follows:
- Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right, nationalist, and anti-Islam activist, has called his supporters to join a protest march starting from Victoria Station in London at 11:00 (local time) on October 26.
- Following the initial gathering, protesters will begin their march towards Parliament Square at 13:00, for the concluding rally. However, the exact route of this march is not yet confirmed.
- This protest is being held to denounce the death of Peter Lynch while serving a prison sentence for his involvement in violent unrest in Rotherham in August, and to denounce the UK government’s alleged pressurizing of “good people to plead guilty to non-existent crimes.”
Source: X/Twitter
- Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right, nationalist, and anti-Islam activist, has called his supporters to join a protest march starting from Victoria Station in London at 11:00 (local time) on October 26.
- Following the initial gathering, protesters will begin their march towards Parliament Square at 13:00, for the concluding rally. However, the exact route of this march is not yet confirmed.
- This protest is being held to denounce the death of Peter Lynch while serving a prison sentence for his involvement in violent unrest in Rotherham in August, and to denounce the UK government’s alleged pressurizing of “good people to plead guilty to non-existent crimes.”
Source: X/Twitter
- In response to this rally, left-wing and anti-racism activists associated with multiple groups and labor unions, including Stand Up To Racism, Unison Union, Stop the War Coalition among others, will hold a counter-protest near Piccadilly Circus in London starting at 11:30 on the same day.
- The counter-protesters are also slated to hold a march following their initial gathering; however, the exact route of this march and its concluding location are not yet confirmed.
Source: X/Twitter
- In response to this rally, left-wing and anti-racism activists associated with multiple groups and labor unions, including Stand Up To Racism, Unison Union, Stop the War Coalition among others, will hold a counter-protest near Piccadilly Circus in London starting at 11:30 on the same day.
- The counter-protesters are also slated to hold a march following their initial gathering; however, the exact route of this march and its concluding location are not yet confirmed.
Source: X/Twitter
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent and social media estimates, the slated far-right protest and left-wing counter-demonstration are expected to attract turnout in the range of high thousands to low tens of thousands each.
- As such, a bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed near the aforementioned protest locations and throughout central London as a precautionary measure as well as to keep the far-right and left-wing demonstrators separate to avoid confrontation. The possibility of police implementing roadblocks and erecting barricades in central London areas, especially in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts, also remains.
- Regardless, given the heightened sentiments around the protest issues and the proximity between the two protests, they carry an especially heightened risk of unrest, including clashes between protesters, counter-protesters, and the police. With larger turnouts, the risk of violent escalation also increases, posing a threat of physical injury, vandalism, and property damage near these protests. Additionally, the likely presence of far-right extremist elements, including the members of the far-right English Defense League (EDL), at the Tommy Robinson protest increases the risk of assaults or attacks targeting minorities, especially against individuals who are visibly Muslim.
- In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are expected to respond with forcible crowd dispersal methods, including the use of tear gas and water cannons, as well as conducting mass arrests to manage crowds.
- Significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, including road closures and alterations to public transport services, can be anticipated in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts of London from morning hours due to the slated protests.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Central London on October 26 are advised to avoid non-essential travel in the vicinity of Victoria Station, Parliament Square, and Piccadilly Circus from the morning hours due to the elevated risk of violent unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel in central London, especially in the Victoria, Whitehall, and Piccadilly districts, due to the slated protests.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
London, UK
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
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Related Reports
UK
-
WeatherEurope Tactical: Red, orange alerts for inclement weather in effect in several countries on November 22-24; remain cognizant of updates
-
TravelUK Tactical: Security operations prompts evacuations at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London, as of morning hours (local time) on November 22; reconfirm itineraries
-
TravelUK Tactical: Fire alarm prompts disruptions at LTN Airport in London as of late morning hours (local time) on November 20; reconfirm itineraries
-
ProtestUK Tactical: Housing rights activists to protest outside Southwark Council office in London at 18:00 (local time) on November 20; allot for disruptions