Over 70 individuals were arrested in central London this Saturday, following a breach of protest conditions during a pro-Palestinian march.
The arrests occurred as demonstrators, rallying against Israel’s 15-month conflict in Gaza, attempted to march from Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square despite police interventions.
The demonstration, which attracted thousands, came in the wake of a recent ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Protestors carried banners with messages such as “Stop arming Israel” and “Free Palestine.” Although police initially halted the crowd’s progress at Whitehall, a breakaway group managed to push forward towards the iconic Trafalgar Square.
Amid the tumult, notable figures such as Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, and John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, were seen amongst the crowd in footage shared on X.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 77 individuals were detained, with arrests made to enforce conditions set to confine the protest to specific areas and prevent disruptions. Notably, one arrest was linked to the display of support for organisations prohibited in the UK.
The Muslim Association of Britain expressed strong disapproval of the police’s actions, describing them as a severe infringement on democratic rights and freedoms of assembly and expression.
Earlier in the day, additional arrests were made for public order offences and breaches of protest stipulations. Among those detained was Chris Nineham, a prominent member of the Stop the War coalition.
The organisation has condemned the arrest as an excessive use of force and an assault on civil liberties, demanding his immediate release without charges.
Metropolitan Police Commander Adam Slonecki, overseeing the operation, remarked on the unprecedented level of arrests as a necessary response to escalating criminal behaviour during the protest.
He stressed the importance of trust and compliance with agreed conditions to ensure the safety and legality of public demonstrations.
