Brexit protests: Thousands take to streets in London and Rome as EU celebrates 60th anniversary - without UK
A crowd of Brexit protesters gathered in London on Saturday, as EU leaders in Rome signed a treaty renewing their vows amid a heavy police presence.
In London, the Unite for Europe march is to head from Park Lane towards parliament, with dozens of protesters carrying yellow flowers to lay at a memorial for the Westminster attack victims.
Still not started, and this is just a tiny slice of the queue. #UniteForEurope march already HUGE! #Remain#StopBrexitpic.twitter.com/nOSysHXXub
— Matt Kamen (@MattKamen) March 25, 2017
And in Rome, security has been ramped up ahead of four marches and two sit-ins taking place on Saturday which could see up to 25,000 people descending on the capital.
Police dinghies are patrolling the Tiber River and some 5,000 officers including bomb-sniffing dog units have beem deployed on the streets amid reports that anarchists might try and disrupt proceedings.
Pro EU rally in Rome. Campaigners remember murdered British MP Jo Cox. pic.twitter.com/GhhNkmO71I
— Nick Squires (@NickSquires1) March 25, 2017
<br> The protests come just a few days before Theresa May is expected to trigger Article 50, which will begin the formal process of leaving the EU.
Speaking in Rome, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said it was a tragedy that the Rome treaty - which marks the bloc's 60th anniversary - was being signed without Britain.
Brits living in Italy call for rights of those living in EU to be guaranteed post Brexit. pic.twitter.com/8uFQEUKr7a
— Nick Squires (@NickSquires1) March 25, 2017
There's a heavy police presence in Rome for #TreatyofRome commemorations. pic.twitter.com/nH9cRDSVhS
— Nick Squires (@NickSquires1) March 25, 2017