Tommy Robinson is leading thousands of right-wing protesters through central London today for his 'Unite the Kingdom' march as police brace for chaos.

The march, organised by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim activist Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, met at Stamford Street near London's Waterloo Bridge before making its way to the southern end of Whitehall where a rally will take place.

Swathes of demonstrators have turned out bedecked in Union Jacks and England flags at the Unite the Kingdom march - which is expected to mourn Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was shot dead on Wednesday.

It is sure to be a topic discussed at length by speakers at the rally, with photographs of Kirk and flags with his face on being held by some protesters.

Planned speakers include far-right politicians Eric Zemmour from France and Petr Bystron of Alternative for Germany (AfD), as well as controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson.

Commentator Katie Hopkins and TV personality Ant Middleton are also at the event, as well as former actor Laurence Fox, and have been spotted laughing around a table as they wait for the march to Whitehall to commence.

Crowds have been heard chanting 'f*** you Starmer' outside Blackfriars station with others chanting Robinson's name. Amongst the crowd are protesters how have flown thousands of miles, including visitors from the US and a man from New Zealand who said he had flown to the UK with 'about 100 of my warriors' to take part in the march.

A counter-protest organised by group Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) formed at the other end of Whitehall with hundreds in attendance, where placards and Palestinian flags have been displayed.

Some of the signs held aloft at the SUTR are titled 'smash the far right' and 'refugees welcome'. Other materials displayed include a Union Jack with the words 'Diverse Britain' emblazoned across its front featuring LGBTQ colouring.

The Met announced it is deploying 1,600 officers as Yaxley-Lennon supporters and opposing anti-racist demonstrators, who are hosting the 'March Against Fascism', stage rival rallies.

Tommy Robinson said the 'revolution is on' in a video posted to X where he claimed his Unite the Kingdom protest was the largest demonstration in British history.

The far-right activist told his followers that London was full of 'patriots' before saying 'the spark has started, the revolution is on'.

There are more than 400,000 people watching Robinson's live stream on X as they chanted his name and 'Keir Starmer is a wanker'.

A presenter on the stream said Robinson is 'on his way' to the protesters now as they march on Whitehall.

Meanwhile counter-protesters gathered in Russell Square before marching via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally.

The march is led by hundreds of women, Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) said, including independent MP Diane Abbott.

Speaking to Sky News from Russell Square, Ms Abbott said: 'We need to show that we are united.

'They [Unite The Kingdom] are talking nonsense. It is a dangerous lie to try and say that men of colour are a threat to women. It is a dangeorus lie and we need to squash it.

'My message to the government is they want to keep people safe and we need to be clear that these demonstrations around hotels are racist demonstrations.'

Samira Ali, national organiser for SUTR, said: 'Our demonstration will be sending a message loud and clear: we are united against the far right threat. Women don't need the far right to keep us safe.'

Opening the rally speeches at Russell Square, co-convener of the Stand Up To Racism protest said the Labour Government has been 'trying to out-racist the racists all summer'.

Sabby Dhalu thanked the 'very happy' and 'militant' crowd of hundreds, before telling them: 'We've got to acknowledge that the events over the summer - all of the far-right protests, all of the far-right uniting behind this toxic narrative, and Reform UK and Nigel Farage, along with Tory politicians like Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman encouraging the protesters, attending the protests in various parts of the country - has meant that we are going to see a very big Tommy Robinson demonstration today.'

She added: 'Sadly that narrative has been conceded to by the Labour Government who have been trying to out-racist the racists all summer, which has just fed this toxic narrative and hatred and racism towards refugees.'

Ms Dhalu was followed by author, historian and child sexual abuse survivor Louise Raw - the founder of Survivors Against Fascism - who claimed some far-right protesters who have spoken out against sex attacks were offenders themselves.

'We know the far-right do not stand with survivors, they create survivors', she said, adding: 'Tommy Robinson will not ever speak to you about them ever.'

Hundreds had gathered outside Russell Square before the March Against Fascism counter-protest by 11.20am on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Police said barriers will be in place to create space between the two groups. The force also confirmed live facial recognition will not be in place for today's protest - it was recently used at Notting Hill Carnival.

There will be strict conditions imposed under the Public Order Act on where and when campaigners can protest, the force added.

More than 1,600 officers will be deployed across London on Saturday, including 500 brought in from other forces.

Around 1,000 officers will be on duty at the marches, while the remaining 600 will police other high-profile events including Premier League events.

Scotland Yard will have to contend with derbies between West Ham and Tottenham and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton will entertain local rivals Millwall in the Championship.

In addition, thousands of Leeds fans will be heading south for their match at Fulham, Nottingham Forest are away at Arsenal and Sunderland are playing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Police warned the public of traffic disruption due to the crowds and said buses will likely face delays.

Protesters line up as they prepare to march on Whitehall as part of the Unite The Kingdom rally

Protesters joining the Unite The Kingdom march gather outside Blackfriars Station

As well as Union Jacks and England flags, protesters from Scotland and Wales brought their own national flags to the event

Protesters in support of Tommy Robinson gathered close to the iMax cinema south of the river

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EXCLUSIVE

Police braced for London chaos after Tommy Robinson urged 'football lads' to support rally

Thousands of people seemingly on their way to the demonstrations have also been spotted cramming onto London Underground services.

Early photographs on Saturday morning showed crowds gathering in anticipation of today's protests, with many draped in Union Jacks, England and American flags.

Yaxley-Lennon, 42, described the event as the UK's biggest free speech festival and said thousands are due to attend, boasting: 'The football lads are coming from everywhere.'

He has called on attendees of his rally to not wear masks, drink alcohol or be violent.

In a video on X he said: 'It's not a time for riots. It's not a time for violence. It's a time where you come and you stand proudly for your country.'

He added: 'This is an imperative message and an important message: we have to control ourselves.'

People milled around with placards that said 'refugees welcome' and 'oppose Tommy Robinson', and chants of 'say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here' started at around 11.20am.

Meanwhile men carrying Union and St George's cross flags were seen sitting outside central London pubs, while others carrying tins of alcohol walked towards the start point of Robinson's march which will begin near Waterloo Bridge.

Eight police vans - from Warwickshire Police, West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police - lined Woburn Street which runs alongside the square.

On Friday Muslim Londoners were told not to avoid the capital today despite the risk of clashes between rival groups.

Commander Clair Haynes, who is overseeing the policing operation, said she recognised there were concerns for London's Muslims ahead of Robinson's march given the record of anti-Islam rhetoric from the activist and his supporters.

'There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town,' she said.

'That is not our advice.

'Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we'd urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.

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In addition to the two high-profile protests, police will have to contend with derbies between West Ham and Tottenham and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton will entertain local rivals Millwall in the Championship

Police will try to keep Robinson's supporters separate from counter-protesters from Stand up to Racism (stock image)

Participants in the Unite the Kingdom march have been told they must form up in the area shaded above on Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge

Demonstrators from Unite the Kingdom have been told they must follow the agreed route above and cannot enter the 'emergency access lane' on Westminster Bridge to ensure there will be a path for emergency vehicles such as ambulances

Counter protesters attending the March Against Fascism must form up in Russell Square before taking the route above

'This will be a very busy day with protest, sporting fixtures, concerts and other events. The Met is used to delivering the sort of complex and large-scale policing operation that is required to keep the public safe, and we have a detailed plan to do so on Saturday.

'I am grateful to the many hundreds of Met officers who are being deployed away from their day-to-day roles and to the 500 or so officers from around the country who have responded to our request for support.

'The main focus of the operation is on the two protests in central London. We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights, but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur.

'In the run-up to the protests we have been in close contact with the organisers, with local business and community representatives, and with representatives of communities across London more broadly.

'We would ask all those taking part in the protests to be considerate of the communities they are passing through to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime.'

Metropolitan Police Federation chairwoman Paula Dodds said officers policing large protests regularly are 'emotionally and physically exhausted'.

'We've seen multiple Metropolitan Police officers be refused leave and have much-needed rest days cancelled,' she said.

'Our colleagues have and continue to lose time with their families, friends and loved ones because they have been pulled into London to police protests. We must remember there are no 'extra' police officers. Just the same hard-working ones having their days off cancelled, having to work longer shifts and being moved from other areas.

'They have come under attack and been violently assaulted for doing the job society expects of them. The demand is relentless. And it's not sustainable.'