American nationals have been told to be careful on the streets of London during planned demonstrations against Donald Trump later this week.
The US Embassy has told citizens to “keep a low profile” and “exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent” on Friday.
The president’s first official visit to the UK is expected to be overshadowed by mass demonstrations, with more than 50,000 people signed up to take part in protests in the capital.
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Owen Jones, a political commentator and activist involved in the London protest, criticised the embassy for suggesting that the march could turn violent.
“I hope Americans in Britain will join the protests against Donald Trump on Friday in their thousand,” he tweeted. “You are our friends and we will be proud to march with you.”
The commander-in-chief is due to meet the Queen at Windsor Castle and Theresa May at her country home in Chequers, before travelling north to Scotland. “He’ll be laying unusually low for a US president visiting Britain, thanks to the throngs of protests expected in central London,” says Quartz.
The planned demonstrations during Trump’s visit have triggered the biggest mobilisation of police officers since the 2011 riots, with officials warning that it will put “unquestionable pressure” on forces.
The bill for the trip is estimated to be more than £30m, “with the potential for a far greater tally if violence breaks out,” the Daily Mirror reports.
