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Fight breaks out as Tommy Robinson’s supporters shout ‘England ’til I die’ in march to Cenotaph

A fight breaks out as Tommy Robinson’s protesting supporters shout ‘England ’til I die’ in a march to reach the Cenotaph.

It took place as they arrived in Whitehall on Saturday with a number of police officers trying to form a ring of steel around the Cenotaph.

There had been chants of ‘England till I die’ and ‘Let us through’ close to the war memorial with police reinforcements attempting to stop the mob, but the group pushed through shouting “forward”, with some shouting ‘let’s have them’ as officers got out their batons.

Reports state that the group, many of those wearing masks to cover their faces, hurled bottles at police.

According to the Daily Mail, Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had been among those who could be heard ‘chanting football-style cheers as they overwhelmed police’ nearby to the monument.

Trouble broke out moments before the Armistice Day two-minute silence, with people across the Britain showing respect to those who died, commemorating the end of the First World War at 11am.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, a former co-leader of the English Defence League (EDL), had called for his supporters, one of the groups involved is the so-called Democratic Football Lads Alliance, to join together in London in response to the pro-Palestinian protests taking place today.

The Democratic Football Lads Alliance issued a post to Facebook dettering people from seeking to “desecrate and disrespect our monuments” by acting as a “buffer” for those who wish to head to the Cenotaph to pay their respects on Saturday.

The Democratic Football Lads Alliance said: “Vets have reached out and asked for our support due to the threat from the far-left and pro-Palestinian supporters to disrupt the Remembrance Day parade.

“We are calling on all football lads up and down the country to join us in standing shoulder to shoulder with our veterans that fought for our freedom.”

Robinson uploaded videos on Saturday showing him among the crowds convening in central London.

He said: “There’s groups coming from every area and angle.”

While another clip shows a few people approach him to embrace him and pat him on the back. There were also chants of “We love you, Tommy, we do”.

As mentioned, a fight breaks out as Tommy Robinson’s supporters shout ‘England ’til I die’ in the march to the Cenotaph.

The Met Police posted on Twitter: “While the two minutes’ silence was marked respectfully and without incident on Whitehall, officers have faced aggression from counter-protesters who are in the area in significant numbers.”

The force added that it “will use all the powers and tactics available to us to prevent” the counter-protesters from confronting the main march, calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In an update on Twitter, the Met said: “A group of counter protesters who left Whitehall and moved into Chinatown confronted and threw missiles at officers who tried to engage with them.

“Additional officers have been deployed to the area to identify, locate and deal with those involved. Our priority is keeping the public safe. We will not tolerate disorder in central London today.”

Tommy Robinson soon made his way into a taxi and drove away before people from his group marched on towards Hyde Park, only to be met by riot police.

As per the Mirror, protesters ended up clashing with police in Chinatown, chanting: “You’re not English anymore” towards officers and also throwing missiles at them, before legging it in the direction of Piccadilly Circus.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said Suella Braverman has “emboldened” far-right protesters to attack police.

He tweeted: “The far-right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the Police on Armistice Day. The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.”

Met Police later tweeted that they arrested someone with a knife in China Town near where counter-protestors threw missiles.

“Officers who intercepted this group have arrested a man on suspicion of possession of a knife. The majority of the group have dispersed but officers remain in the area.”

More footage emerges, this time showing fights breaking out at Westminster Station, running from the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square towards police vans blocking the route towards Westminster Bridge all while chanting “England till I die” and “We want our country back” before clashing with officers.

Officers managed to detained a “large group” of counter-protesters near Westminster Bridge, believed to be part of the group involved in the disorder earlier.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has put blame on Home Secretary Suella Braverman for far-right violence at the Cenotaph.

He said: “The scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words.

‘The police’s job has been made much harder.

“The Met have my full support to take action against anyone found spreading hate and breaking the law.”

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