Fears of clashes between far-Right hooligans and pro-Palestine protesters marching on Armistice Day grow after Tommy Robinson tweets to followers ‘your country needs you’

Fears are growing that members of the far-Right will clash with protesters during a pro-Palestinian march planned to take place on Armistice Day.

More than 70,000 people are expected to flock to central London on Saturday to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza – a few hours after a two-minute silence will be held at the Cenotaph for those fallen service men and women.

The protest has led to calls for the demonstration against the conflict in the Middle East to be cancelled, with the Prime Minister’s spokesperson warning yesterday that the event was ‘proactive and disrespectful’.

Concern is now growing that the march will be confronted by members of the far right – with the English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson rallying on his likeminded peers to join him in the capital.

Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – rallied his far-Right hooligans yesterday, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘Saturday 11/11/11 London, your country needs you.’

English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson calls on people to join him in the capital on Saturday

Yesterday, Robinson tweeted: ‘Saturday 11/11/11 London, your country needs you’

More than 70,000 people are expected to flock to central London on Saturday to protest against Israel ‘s bombardment of Gaza. Pictured: Those protesting last Saturday

In a ranting video published on X the Far-Right activist spoke of ‘a mass of men who are willing to stand for their country’ meeting in London as a counter-protest, adding that he wanted to ‘show the world that British people are not happy’. 

The tirade comes as Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terror legislation, told the Telegraph there were concerns of ‘an extreme Right-wing terrorist backlash’ if Saturday’s demonstration against the conflict in the Middle East goes ahead. 

READ HERE: Poppy seller veteran, 78, tells how he was punched by pro-Palestine protesters as he fundraised at Scottish station that was besieged by demonstrators

Mr Hall also told the Evening Standard that Islamists had used a previous Remembrance Day protest as a ‘recruitment method’.

He added that the demonstration had been used to ‘de-legitmise soldiers’, which was later seen when Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered in 2013.  

His stark warning came as it emerged far-Right hooligan groups were planning to hold a counter demonstration to the Palestinian protest, after fears were raised some war memorials – such as the cenotaph – could be targeted. 

The Prime Minister has warned that any desecration of monuments or incidents of racial hatred would be an ‘affront to the public’. 

This morning former Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson slammed the protest as ‘tone death’ and ‘insensitive’.

He told LBC: ‘I do think it’s hugely regrettable that organisations think it’s appropriate to march on this particular date on this weekend… At the very least, it would seem to me to be tone deaf and somewhat insensitive.’

The former police boss added: ‘The decision of the Commissioner to apply to the Home Secretary for a ban, I think, is a delicate and tricky one.

‘These judgments may go to the wire, with responsible police leadership working hard to bring about an appeal for common sense resolution.’

Pro-Palestine marches have been taking place each Saturday since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7 following the terrorist group’s deadly attack

Metropolitan Police officers have been standing on guard at the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall following a row over removing flags  

Dismayed British Royal Legion poppy sellers could only look on after pro-Palestine protesters engaged in a sit-in protest at Charing Cross station

Calls have been made for the protest to be banned on the day of Remembrance but members of the group organising the march – Friends of Al Aqsa – have resisted adding that it plans to uphold its ‘democratic freedoms including the right to protest’.

READ HERE: Armistice Day under attack: Now JSO protest at the Cenotaph after poppy sellers were swamped by pro-Palestine rallies and forced to pack up and leave – as calls grow for ban on November 11 demonstrations 

The group, who have now been urged by the Met Police and Home Secretary Suella Braverman to call off the march, previously said it had ‘no intention of marching on or near Whitehall’ adding that a decision had been made ‘in order to not interfere with the events at the Cenotaph’.

Yesterday the London force warned of a ‘growing’ risk of violence and disorder from breakaway groups from the protest. 

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: ‘This is of concern ahead of a significant and busy weekend in the capital. 

‘Our message to organisers is clear: Please, we ask you to urgently reconsider. It is not appropriate to hold any protests in London this weekend.’

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign group – who also helped organise the march – said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the statement.  

Tensions had been growing since the Prime Minister last week warned that there was a ‘clear and present risk’ that the Cenotaph.

On Saturday 78-year-old poppy seller, called Jim Henderson, was forced to pack up and leave Waverly station in Edinburgh as 1,200 pro-Palestine protesters staged a concourse sit in.

Poppy-seller Jim Henderson, 78, said he was kicked and punched at Edinburgh Waverley on Saturday

Social media footage shows the 78-year-old trying to escape

Protesters blew whistles, waved Palestinian flags and held up placards which said ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Boycott Apartheid Israel’

Following Saturday’s ordeal, Mr Henderson told the Mail: ‘I was getting shoved backwards, in danger of falling, and one of them stood on my foot and split my toe. 

‘So I thought I had got to get the money out of here. So I went down, and as I bent down someone punched me in the back. And then I got another punch in my side.’

He said that he managed to get up and was rescued by three ladies in red railway uniforms. ‘I’ve never known anything like it,’ he said. ‘Chanting. Saying it’s all about the British Government, British people, Jews.’

The former veteran, who served in the Royal Corps of Singals, 32 Regiment, during the Troubles added: ‘You don’t do that, and kick someone from behind and that was when I couldn’t get out of the way. That’s when I bent down and…bang.’

In London, three collectors were surrounded by chanting crowds at Charing Cross station, as they continued to sit with their money tins in the station.  

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