Thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters have gathered in central London for a planned protest which the political activist will not miss after being taken into custody by police.

Protesters carried signs reading “Keir two-tier fueled the riots” as they marched from Victoria Station towards Parliament Square on Saturday.

“Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the boats” signs were also raised by demonstrators, some of whom were drinking cans and glasses of alcohol.

A counter-protest organized by Stand Up to Racism is also taking place in the capital, with supporters urged to “take to the streets” for a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.

In a separate action, a few hundred people gathered on the corner of Trafalgar Square for the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) march to Downing Street, to protest against deaths in custody.

Activists held signs reading “No justice”, “No one forgotten, nothing forgiven” and “No to hatred, no to fascism”, while others held up images of people they said had died in custody .

Family and friends of Chris Kaba, who was fatally shot by police sniper Martyn Blake – who was cleared of murder on Monday, were expected to attend the UFFC march.

Robinson, 41, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is charged with contempt of court after a film was shown at a protest in Trafalgar Square in July.

He attended Folkestone police station on Friday where he was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday into allegations he breached a 2021 High Court order banning him from repeating defamatory allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him.

The showing of a film called Silenced at the Trafalgar Square protest is understood to be one of six actions alleged to have breached the injunction between June and July.

The film is also pinned to the top of his X account.

Robinson was separately charged on Friday with failing to provide his mobile phone passcode to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.

The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police are being supported by officers from other forces across the country for Saturday’s protests, and the Met said there would be a “significant police presence” to ensure both groups are separated.

Participants in the protest organized by Robinson marched from Victoria Station to the south end of Whitehall, while the counter-protest formed at Regent Street St James’s and is expected to end at the north end of Whitehall.

The Met said static gatherings were expected at the end of both marches.

Many protesters at Robinson’s march raised Union and England flags – with several Make America Great Again flags in support of Donald Trump also in the crowd.

Some protesters wore “My name is Peter Lynch” badges, referring to a 61-year-old man who died in prison after being jailed for shouting insults at riot police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

A stage was erected in Parliament Street where speeches and musical performances took place while protesters chanted “We want Tommy out”.

And before the march began, chants of “Oh Tommy, Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” were heard.

The PA news agency understands Robinson will be detained in Folkestone until his court hearing on Monday.

He was released on unconditional bail in July and later left the country. Adam Payter, representing the solicitor general, told the High Court there was “nothing stopping him from doing so”.

Judge Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest, but ordered that he not be executed “until the beginning of October” to give Robinson time to indicate that he would voluntarily attend the next hearing or to request the “cancellation” of the warrant.

Robinson posted a video of himself arriving at Luton Airport on October 20 and said he was surprised he had not been arrested.

He asked to have the warrant quashed, but his request was denied Friday by Judge Johnson.

The separate charge under the Terrorism Act relates to his arrest in July at a Kent port, where he was accused of “frustrating” the police’s counter-terrorism powers.

He allegedly failed to provide his mobile phone passcode to officers at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone.

Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, police are authorized to arrest any person transiting through a UK port “to determine whether they may be involved or concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”.

The arrested person can be detained for up to six hours, is legally required to answer questions and must provide the password or access number to electronic devices, or be considered to have committed a criminal offense if of refusal.

Robinson said he objected to a police request for his phone number because there was inside information on the device relating to a pending High Court case.