London police announced that backup officers from across the UK have been deployed to the capital to tackle potential violence over the weekend.
LONDON
LONDON - On Wednesday, British police issued a stern statement banning a mobile march by supporters of the Islamic Republic, scheduled to take place in the streets of London for "Al-Quds Day," citing unprecedented security risks and the potential for "serious public disorder."
London police officials emphasized that security assessments indicate the complexity of the current situation and the high potential for confrontation are beyond what can be managed through standard restrictions. The statement noted that allowing the march to proceed could lead to "injuries to members of the public, protesters, and police officers, as well as damage to property."
This decision comes as military tensions between the Islamic Republic, the United States, and Israel have reached a breaking point. Following extensive U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on strategic positions within Iran in March 2026—which targeted nuclear facilities and missile bases and resulted in the deaths of several senior military and political officials—British police are concerned that a gathering of regime supporters in London could become a flashpoint for violent confrontations. Citing ongoing threats from Tehran against Western interests, security officials emphasized that the volatile atmosphere resulting from this conflict has raised the risk of unrest in the UK capital to "severe" levels.
Referring to the history of this event, which is organized by groups aligned with Tehran, police reminded that in previous years, participants in this march were arrested on charges of "supporting terrorist organizations" and committing "antisemitic hate crimes." Scotland Yard stressed that this year’s decision is based solely on "risk assessment" in the current inflamed environment to prevent violence by pro-regime groups.
British security authorities warned that despite the ban on the mobile march, any attempt to form a procession, move through the city, or incite others to do so is considered a "criminal offense" and will lead to immediate arrest. London police announced that backup officers from across the UK have been deployed to the capital to tackle potential violence over the weekend.
While UK law does not grant police the legal power to completely ban "static assemblies," officials announced that "strict conditions" will be imposed on any stationary gathering by supporters of the Islamic Republic. Police stated: "We cannot guarantee these steps reduce the risk of disorder to zero, and given the tensions, confrontations between supporters of the Iranian regime and their opponents remain likely."
London police also emphasized that they have held ongoing consultations with representatives of the Iranian, Muslim, and Jewish communities to manage this challenging situation and prevent Middle Eastern tensions from spilling over onto the streets of London.