The Metropolitan Police carried out one of its largest public order operations since the early 2000s, creating a sterile zone across central London to keep far-right and pro-Palestinian demonstrators apart.

Tourists found themselves confused as barriers surrounded landmarks like Nelson’s Column and The Mall. Officers from across England and Wales joined the effort, supported by helicopters, dogs, and armoured vehicles.

Despite fears of violence, the plan largely succeeded. Around 60,000 attended the Unite the Kingdom march, while the Nakba protest followed a separate route. Facial recognition cameras at major stations led to early arrests.

By Saturday evening, 43 arrests

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were confirmed: 20 linked to Robinson’s march, 12 to the Nakba protest, and 11 unaffiliated. Eleven arrests were tied to alleged hate crimes, while seven further offences from the Nakba march remain under investigation.

The operation coincided with the FA Cup Final, adding to police challenges. Robinson thanked supporters, but several foreign speakers were barred entry, including Valentina Gomez, Dominik Tarczynski, and Ezra Levant. Elon Musk, who had addressed a previous rally, was notably absent.

Police helicopters monitored the protests, dogs waited in vans, and new SandCat armoured vehicles were kept out of sight for extreme scenarios. Numbers at Robinson’s march were lower than in September, and the atmosphere was less tense.