Businesses Close Early Amid Fears of Protests in London

Many businesses in London decided to close their doors early on Wednesday due to urgent fears of possible unrest. There have been warnings of planned protests by groups accused of spreading hate and division, leading shops to take precautions for the safety of customers and staff.

A Foxton’s estate agents on High Road boarded up its windows after receiving advice from the police. A staff member remarked, ‘It’s for customer and staff safety, just for today.’ The concerns were directly related to ongoing violent protests from far-right groups.

Nearby businesses, including clothes shops and hairdressers, also chose to close early. One local shop owner mentioned, ‘The hairdressers, the corner shops, these have all closed.’ She expressed worries about safety and said, ‘We might also close because it’s dangerous… It’s scary, we don’t want to be in the middle of it.’

In another area, a popular pub known as the Nags Head also shut down for the day, citing safety concerns linked to potential protests in Walthamstow. They informed patrons to take care and stay safe during this troubling time.

An anonymous manager from a school uniform shop described a noticeable slowdown in business, mentioning how the streets felt unusually quiet despite typically being busy. ‘Today, normally we are busy but the streets are quite quiet,’ she said.

As rumors spread on social media about protests in Walthamstow and Finchley, police made it clear they were prepared to take swift action if disturbances occurred. Despite reassurances from local authorities in Croydon that there was no credible threat of violence, residents were still advised to be cautious.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine voiced his stance, condemning the disorder and stating, ‘We will not tolerate this on our streets.’ Mayor Sadiq Khan echoed those sentiments, urging vigilance and compassion as communities navigated these tense times.

Khan remarked, ‘In London, we have zero tolerance for racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, or any form of hate.’ He emphasized the importance of standing together against hatred and violence, noting the responsibility of political leaders in addressing wrongful acts.