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City of millions on edge as rival protests take over the streets

A massive police presence has swarmed on the streets of London to ensure that two rival marches, attended by tens of thousands, and the climax of the FA Cup unfolded without major incident.

In what's been described as a "significant public order policing operation," London's Metropolitan Police deployed at least 4000 officers, armoured vehicles, horses, dogs, drones and helicopters.

Most concerns focused on central London, where police sought to prevent any interaction between the two major demonstrations.

Watch the video above.

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One march was organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

The other was the annual Nakba Day demonstration, which commemorates the 1948 exodus of around 700,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel.

Police remain on guard for any splinter groups coming into contact, and for any trouble following the conclusion of the FA Cup final, which was attended by more than 83,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

LONDON, ENGLAND -MAY 15: People take part in the 78th Nakba Anniversary March on May 16, 2026 in London, England. Today is the 78th Nakba anniversary, demanding an end to British support for Israel. The Metropolitan Police have imposed Public Order Act conditions, restricting the protest to Pall Mall to separate it from a concurrent far-right rally on Whitehall. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

As of this morning, police said 43 people were arrested for a variety of offences. A further 22 were arrested at the FA Cup final, where Manchester City beat Chelsea.

Police said four officers were assaulted, none seriously, while a further six were subjected to hate crime offences.

The marches took place at a particularly radicalised time in British politics, with the extremes on the right and the left advancing across the UK in last week's elections.

Protesters are driven by a range of grievances. Many are angry about the number of would-be asylum-seekers making the dangerous crossing across the English Channel from the French coast to the UK in small boats.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: People take part in the "Unite the Kingdom" rally on May 16, 2026 in London, England. The far-right "Unite the Kingdom" rally, organised by Tommy Robinson is to be held under strict Public Order Act conditions with demonstrators legally confined to a specific south-bound corridor from Kingsway to Parliament Square between late morning and early evening. To prevent clashes with a concurrent counter-protest, the Metropolitan Police has launched an unprecedented £4.5 milli

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Others are protesting Israel's actions in Gaza, which have devastated the Palestinian enclave and, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, killed more than 72,700 people.

Prosecutors have been told to consider whether protest placards, banners and chants viewed on social media may amount to offences of stirring up hatred during the rallies.

"This is not about restricting free speech," said the Crown Prosecution Service's director, Stephen Parkinson. "It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public, particularly at a time of heightened tensions."

The British government also blocked 11 foreign nationals from entering the country for the "Unite the Kingdom" rally.

Right-wing figures claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

Manchester City players pose with the winner's trophy after the English FA Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Pelham)

"We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence," said Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is fighting for his political life following those disastrous election results earlier this month.

"For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law."

On Friday, Starmer visited the Metropolitan Police command centre to discuss policing arrangements for the rallies alongside Met Commissioner Mark Rowley and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Live facial recognition will be used for the first time in a protest policing operation.

Cameras have been set up in the north London neighbourhood of Camden, which is not on the route of the "Unite the Kingdom" march but is expected to be used by many people attending the event.

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Guyana: Airport solar project to save US$800,000 every year

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, May 16, CMC – A three-megawatt grid-tied solar photovoltaic plant to be installed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport is expected to save approximately US$800,000 annually in electricity costs when completed in June 2027. Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency, Dr Mahender Sharma, said the facility will generate electricity to offset […]

Powerful 6.0 earthquake rattles Eastern Caribbean

ST JOHN’s, Antigua, May 16, CMC -Residents across Antigua and Barbuda have been describing scenes after a powerful earthquake struck northeast of the country on Saturday morning. According to the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies, the earthquake occurred (local time) at a depth of 31 kilometres. Preliminary data placed […]

Republic Bank’s ‘Five for Fun’ cricket celebrates four years of developing young stars in St. Kitts & Nevis

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 15, CMC – What started as a grassroots development programme has now become a proven pathway to regional glory. Republic Bank’s ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket officially launched its fourth edition on Thursday at the bank’s Fort Street branch, marking four years of shaping the future of West Indies cricket. The ceremony drew […]

Suspects on the run as bus crashes after being pelted with rocks

Several suspects are still on the run after pelting rocks at a bus on the Gold Coast, causing it to crash into a tree.

The passenger bus, which had a driver and five people on board, was the target of several people on e-bikes who threw rocks at it just before 11.30pm last night on Teemangum Street in Currumbin.

This caused the driver to lose control, and the bus left the road and collided head on with a tree.

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The bus driver lost control after being confronted by several e-bike riders.Police are still searching for the people who threw the rocks at the bus.

None of the passengers were injured, but the female bus driver was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Police are investigating the incident and are still searching for the people involved.

The company that runs the bus said it was appalled by the act of violence, and that drivers did not deserve the kind of abuse they faced.

"This was a deeply distressing incident for the bus driver and passengers involved, and we are in contact with those affected to offer our support," Kinetic executive general manager for south-east Queensland Tom Kinsey said in a statement.

"Attacks on our drivers and passengers are completely unacceptable. We strongly condemn any behaviour that puts the safety of our drivers, the passengers on board and the community at risk."

Anyone who witnessed the crash, or has any CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to come forward.

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Suspicious death probe after man falls from Sydney balcony

A man has died after falling from the balcony of a unit complex in Sydney's north-west, with police treating the death as suspicious.

Emergency services were told shouting was coming from the balcony of a unit on Crane Road in Castle Hill at around 2.40am.

When paramedics arrived, they found a 44-year-old man with serious injuries in a garden outside the unit.

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They started treating him straight away, but he died at the scene.

Police have begun an investigation and set up a crime scene.

They are treating the death as suspicious.

A report will be prepared for the coroner, and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

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