London protests LIVE: Thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters gather in Waterloo for march

More than a hundred people have gathered outside Russell Square before the March Against Fascism counter-protest against far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally, both of which are being held in central London on Saturday.

People milled around with placards that said “refugees welcome” and “oppose Tommy Robinson”, and chants of “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” started at around 11.20am.

Meanwhile men carrying Union and St George’s cross flags were seen sitting outside central London pubs, while others carrying tins of alcohol walked towards the start point of Robinson’s march which will begin near Waterloo Bridge.

Eight police vans – from Warwickshire Police, West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police – lined Woburn Street which runs alongside the square.

Police are not using live facial recognition in its policing of the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration which is beginning on London’s south bank.

A Met spokesperson said: “We’re using a mobile CCTV van to help monitor the build up of crowds. Officers have been asked if it’s using ‘live facial recognition’ – we can confirm it is not.”

The live facial recognition technology – which captures people’s faces in real-time CCTV cameras – was used in the policing operation at the Notting Hill Carnival.

The Unite the Kingdom march and rally is set to hear from speakers including Canadian psychologist and political commentator Jordan Peterson and Katie Hopkins.

Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former chief strategist, is among those who has been listed to appear on stage at the rally .

Other planned speakers on Saturday include Ant Middleton, a former UK special forces soldier who has increasingly used far-right rhetoric, as well as an MP for Germany’s far-right AfD party and a far-right Polish MEP.

Peterson’s inclusion at the event is unclear, the Guardian has reported, saying while the free speech advocate has been a supporter of Robinson online, he has made no mention of the event recently.

Stand up to Racism, who are staging a counter-protest today, are calling for supporters to turn out in a “a massive showing of unity against division.”

In a message to supporters it said: “Let’s see action the length and breath of England, Scotland and Wales against the far right.

“Everyone can play their part in making the national demo against Tommy Robinson on 13 September a massive showing of unity against division.”

Speakers at the demonstration will include Hackney MP Diane Abbott.

Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingsom march” is taking place following widespread protests outside migrant hotels over the summer.

Thousands have joined demonstrations against hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers.

There were also widespread anti-racism protests set up to counter the ant-migrant protests.