
Thousands of football fans marched against extremism today at a protest attended by English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

The Football Lads Alliance (FLA) descended on London for a demonstration condemned by charity Stand up to Racism (SUTR) as well as Labour's shadow home secretary Dianne Abbott.

FLA founder John Meighan said the event was organised to show concern at a 'recent upsurge' in UK terrorist attacks, according to the Evening Standard.

Scroll down for video

The march in London today was attended by thousands, with one Twitter user putting the demonstration's attendance figure at 30,000

Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League, was spotted smiling with members of the Football Lads Alliance

Supporters of northern clubs united with their counterparts in the capital as thousands marched against extremism in central London today

He told the crowd this afternoon the FLA consisted of regular people after Dianne Abbott and others signed an SUTR statement calling on the FLA 'to make it absolutely crystal clear that there is no place for right wing extremists on the 7 October demonstration either as speakers or participants'.

Mr Meighan said: 'We're against all extremism, no matter what the press say. We're just normal people.'

The ex-English Defence League founder appeared to be reporting on the march for The Rebel Media, but was also spotted smiling with supporters

A child sports a Football Lads Alliance sticker over his Tottenham shirt as he joins older demonstrators on the march through London

Marchers flanked by police descended on the capital as part of a demonstration that attracted supporters of clubs from all over the country

'The FLA are taking over now,' claimed the group's founder as he dismissed Dianne Abbott and others who'd signed a statement about the march

He called on the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington to 'move over'.

'It's time for you and your motley crew to move over: the FLA are taking over now,' he said as the crowd jeered and chanted: 'Who are you? Who are you?'

Ex-servicemen marched alongside the Football Lads Alliance in a demonstration against recent terror attacks that have hit the UK

The demonstration attracted army veterans who joined thousands of others to march through London in opposition to extremsim

The march through Marble Arch attracted supporters from clubs in the capital and beyond, including Fulham Football Club in west London

They applauded when Mr Meighan called for foreign terror suspects under police investigation to be deported.

'We want all terrorist suspects who are not British citizens, who pose a threat to society, to be permanently removed from this country,' he said

'Why should they be allowed to do what they do? So what, they're suspects - get them out of here.'

The march's organiser and Football Lads Alliance founder said the demonstrators were normal people who are opposed to all forms of extremism

Stand up to Racism expressed concerns that the march against extremism could attract far-right elements to the demonstration in London

The crowd chanted 'who are you?' after the group's founder called for Dianne Abbot to 'move over' following her signing of a Stand up to Racism statement

Tweeting under @lads_alliance, the group describes itself as a movement 'uniting the football family against extremism'.

Though the Football Lads Alliance identifies as UK group, its Twitter profile claims the group is emerging across mainland Europe.

Beginning in Marble Arch, the march attracted fans from as far afield as Newcastle to protest alongside West Ham United, Millwall and Arsenal fans among others, with Twitter user Mark Braithwaite putting the attendance figure at 30,000.

The group says it aims to unite the football family against extremism and flew banners from a London bus claiming to be protecting future generations

One Tweet put the numbers at 30,000 after the supporters descended on the capital to protest against extremism today

The demonstration in London was attended by fans representing clubs from all over the country, including Manchester United

The Football Lads Alliance was formed in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack in summer and aims to unite fans from across the country

Dianne Abbott was among the signatories of a statement penned by Stand up to Racism, who said the group should make clear there is no place for right-wing extremists to speak on the march

Today's march in central London was attended by Tommy Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, an anti-terror street movement

The demonstration saw fans from rival clubs march alongside one another to condemn terrorist activity in the UK, with the group's founder calling for suspects under investigation to be deported

The Football Lads Alliance describes itself as a UK-wide movement but its Twitter page claims the group is building a presence in mainland Europe

Supporters from across the country descended on the capital in to protest against Islamic extremism and attacks across the UK