More than 2,000 police in central London ahead of Champions League final and far right 'Tommy Robinson' rally
More than 2,000 police officers will be on duty in London on Saturday for the Champions League final, following an expected far-right rally and counter protest.
Thousands of fans are expected to descend on the capital ahead of the game between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at 8pm in Wembley.
Transport for London has already said the network is likely to be extremely busy in the city centre throughout the day, especially as fans travel north-west to Wembley Stadium for the match.
The Metropolitan Police will also be stretched by a rally led by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the anti-Islam activist known to supports as Tommy Robinson.
The Met has said groups linked to football hooliganism could join this rally which will set off in Victoria from 1pm and finish in Parliament Square with far-right speeches.
Stand Up To Racism will hold a static counter protest in Whitehall from midday.
The Met and Uefa, the European football body, will be hoping to avoid ugly scenes outside Wembley Stadium that were seen in 2021 before the Euro 2020 final.
Commander Louise Puddefoot, who is leading this weekend’s policing operation, said: “We want fans visiting London for this fantastic event to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
“There will be a visible police and stewarding presence not just around Wembley but at fan zones and other events.
“Anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has concerns about safety or security should speak to an officer or a member of the stewarding team.”
TfL has said the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines will be especially busy with potential temporary station closures.
Tube stations on these lines may be subject to short-term safety measures such as queuing, temporary closures and trains non-stopping or changes to entry and exits.
Stations bearing the brunt will be Baker Street, Bond Street, Canary Wharf, Charing Cross, Embankment, Marble Arch, Waterloo, Westminster, Wembley Park and Wembley Central.
“Customers are advised to plan ahead and seek out travel routes that avoid the busiest sections of the transport network,” a statement read.
There will also be road closures until Sunday as well as changes to how some buses and Cycleways operate in central London.
