Massive Anti-Immigration Rally in London Turns Violent, 26 Police Officers Injured

London witnessed one of its largest far-right demonstrations in recent memory on Saturday, as a march led by activist Tommy Robinson spiraled into violence, leaving at least 26 police officers injured and resulting in 25 arrests.

According to the Metropolitan Police, clashes erupted when sections of Robinson’s supporters attempted to push through barriers separating them from a counter-protest organized by the group Stand Up to Racism. Officers were reportedly punched, kicked, and struck with bottles before riot police were dispatched to regain control.

Authorities confirmed that four officers sustained serious injuries, including broken teeth, a concussion, a suspected broken nose, and a spinal injury. Reinforcements carrying riot shields and helmets were rushed to the scene to contain escalating tensions.

Crowd estimates placed attendance at between 110,000 and 150,000, making it one of the biggest far-right gatherings in the UK in recent years. Organizers, however, claimed turnout was even higher, branding it the “Unite the Kingdom” march. Robinson hailed the event as a “tidal wave of patriotism” and described it as the beginning of a “cultural revolution.”

Robinson, born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the founder of the nationalist and anti-Islam English Defence League. He has long been a controversial figure in British politics and remains one of the most prominent voices on the UK’s far-right.

The rally drew prominent figures from across Europe’s far-right networks and even saw a surprise video address from billionaire Elon Musk. In his message, Musk criticized Britain’s political leadership, argued that citizens were “scared to exercise their free speech,” and urged a push for political change.

Police said more than 1,600 officers were deployed across London to manage the rally, which coincided with several other major public events including football matches and concerts. Authorities confirmed that investigations into the violence were underway and that additional arrests were likely.

Michael Pratt, one of FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives Captured in Spain

Michael James Pratt, one of the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives was arrested last week by Spanish authorities, said the agency. Pratt has been a fugitive since 2019 and was named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List earlier this year.

Pratt is charged in a 19-count indictment with sex trafficking, production of child pornography, sex trafficking of a minor, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in connection with the operation of the GirlsDoPorn adult website.

Pratt was arrested by Spanish National Police on December 21, 2022, in Madrid, Spain, pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Pratt is being held in Spain pending extradition.

“The capture of Michael Pratt is an example of how the FBI will pursue justice beyond U.S. borders—you can run but you can’t hide,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Thank you to our determined FBI San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and to our federal and international partners for their commitment to making sure that Michael Pratt is brought to justice.”

SAC Moy would like to thank the Spanish National Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their coordination in the arrest of Michael Pratt, and the public for their assistance in this investigation.

Pratt was the 529th person to be placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, which was established in 1950. Additional information concerning Pratt and the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives can be found by visiting the FBI’s website at fbi.gov/topten.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Any additional victims of the alleged crime are encouraged to call the FBI National Threat Operations Center at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Shopkeeper held in TamilNadu’s Tenkasi for refusing to sell candies to Scheduled Caste children

Sep 18 (IANS) The Tenkasi police has arrested Maheswaran, a shopkeeper for refusing to sell snacks and candies to Scheduled Caste children. The district administration sealed the shop and cancelled his license.

Police said that a group of Scheduled Caste children approached Maheswaran for buying snacks and candies on Saturday. He refused to sell them and told them that they won’t get snacks and candies or for that matter anything from his shop.

When the children asked him the reason, he told them that the village elders belonging to his community had decided that they wouldn’t sell anything to the Scheduled Caste people. The video of Maheswaran refusing to sell snacks and candies went viral and Tenkasi district collector, P. Akash intervened in the matter and ordered an investigation.

Arrested

It was found that there was a clash between a group of Scheduled Caste youths with the youths of the intermediate caste during a marriage function and police had registered a case against youths of both sides. A youth belonging to the intermediate caste, K. Ramachandran was to attend an interview with a defence force, but was not able to attend as he was charged under SC/ST Atrocities Act. This infuriated the intermediate caste people and decided to ostracise the Scheduled Caste youth.

Ramachandran was arrested by the Karivalamvanthallur police in Tenkasi district and later on Saturday night, Maheswaran was also arrested.

CBSE Class 12 Economics paper leak traced to HP school, WhatsApp HQ reveals all

Delhi Police have zeroed in on three culprits — a teacher of a private school, a clerk and a support staff — from Himachal Pradesh for leaking the CBSE Class 12 Economics paper. All the three have been arrested by a Special Investigation Team of Delhi on Saturday.

The Economics paper was leaked in handwritten format two days prior to the exam held on March 26, forcing the CBSE to cancel the exam and re-hold it on April 25, causing much uproar in the country by students and parents.

Special Commissioner of Delhi Police R.P. Upadhyaya told media that the SIT has interrogated more than 70 people, including ‘WhatsApp’ admins, school teachers, ground staff, students and others in the case and finally reached its origin from a private school in Himachal Pradesh.

“It traced the transmission of the leak, ncluding its point of origin and who all were the beneficiaries and finally, on the basis of crucial clues and leads, the arrests were made from Himachal Pradesh,” said Upadhyaya.

The investigators had collected all the deleted chats and contexts shared by the group members and the Whatsapp admins with the help of the ‘Whatsapp’ Headquarters in California in US. All the deleted conversation was revived to help crack the case, he said.

The CBSE academic unit at Rouse Avenue was alerted about the leak on March 26 when it received a blank envelope containing some sheets of handwritten answers of Economics paper, just few hours before the exam commenced. For paucity of time to authenticate the leak, the exam was allowed to continue but once it was found that the paper was leaked, the Board has cancelled it and ordered a re-test.

In 2014 too, the physics paper of Class 12 was leaked and was published by a news website in the North East but CBSE found its reach not wide enough to order a re-test.