Thousands of officers deployed as crowds gather for London protests

Thousands of officers deployed as crowds gather for London protestsJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSuzanne LeighReutersTommy Robinson, see here at a previous protest in support of the Iranian peopleMore than 4,000 police officers have been deployed to London on Saturday, as crowds start to gather for two rival protests in the capital.Police will use drones, police horses and dogs and have armoured vehicles on standby. Officers will also manage a so-called "sterile zone" between the Unite the Kingdom march, organised by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, and a pro-Palestinian demonstration.The Metropolitan Police has called it one of the most significant policing operations in years.In addition to the protests, tens of thousands of football fans are expected at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Final on Saturday afternoon. The Met said the risks from the protests meant it had to impose the "highest degree of control", including the first use of live facial recognition cameras as part of a protest policing operation.Live facial recognition will be used at Euston and King's Cross St Pancras train stations, where people attending the Unite the Kingdom march are likely to arrive.Eleven foreign "far-right agitators" have been blocked from entering the country to attend the Unite the Kingdom event, the government said on Friday.Among the 11 blocked from entering the UK is the US-based, anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez, who attended the first Unite the Kingdom march last September.In a statement on Friday, Sir Keir Starmer said: "We're in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against."Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple. We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence."For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you...