London:
UK police arrested two men on Saturday following an attack on a participant at an anti-fascism protest, held to quell another nearby demonstration organized by far-right firebrand Tommy Robinson.
London’s Metropolitan Police said the pair were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a “Stand Up To Racism” protester in Victoria Embankment Gardens in the city center.
Officers provided first aid to the victim after he suffered a head injury in the incident, and he will be taken to hospital to be checked out, the force said.
He noted that, contrary to what was reported on social media, the arrests were not related to the carrying of any flags.
The Met, as the London force is known, said around 1,000 officers were on duty on Saturday as part of the police operation to deal with the two rallies as well as another protest.
Thousands of people gathered in the heart of the British capital from late morning for the demonstration organized by Robinson, a far-right firebrand and founder of the now-defunct Islamophobic organization the English Defense League.
Meanwhile, the counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism and others also gathered in the heart of London, with the Met imposing so-called conditions on the two marches “with the aim of avoiding serious disruption”.
They included requiring participants to confine themselves to certain areas and streets and to disperse at stipulated times.
“Our first priority is to maintain the peace to ensure those exercising their right to lawful protest can do so safely,” Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said ahead of the weekend’s events.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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