Around 1,500 police officers from forces across the UK are on the streets as between 200,000 and 250,000 pro-Palestinian protesters march in central London.
Saturday 17 February 2024 15:49, UK
A further nine people were arrested at a pro-Palestinian march in central London, bringing the total to ten.
Officers arrested a further nine people over the incident at Hyde Park Corner. A man in the crowd holding an anti-Semitic placard was arrested for inciting racial hatred.
When police entered the scene to arrest him, he was assaulted, and as a result, six people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting emergency workers, the Metropolitan Police Department announced.
Two other people were arrested for refusing to remove their face coverings when requested by officers.
Police said the first arrests were made ahead of the start of the march at 1:30 p.m. on charges of supporting a banned group associated with placards.
Police said people wearing face coverings to conceal their identity must remove them if asked until 8pm in most central London areas.
A dispersal order is also in place until 11pm, and anyone who refuses directions to leave the area may be subject to arrest.
A spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the demonstration drew between 200,000 and 250,000 people.
Around 1,500 police officers from forces across the UK are on the streets of London, with demonstrators passing through Park Lane, Knightsbridge and Kensington Road, ending at the Kensington Court intersection where the speech will take place.
According to the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, organizers had advertised a 12:30 p.m. start time, but the Metropolitan Police Department said a 1:30 p.m. start would give the synagogue event time to finish. Ta.
Police said speakers must address crowds near the Israeli embassy and stop gatherings by 5 p.m., while demonstrators must leave by 6 p.m.
The Met Office said that the decision to allow a protest in the immediate vicinity of the embassy “some may wonder why it was allowed”, but that the military could allow or deny protests to be held. “This is a common misconception,” he said.
There should have been a “real risk of serious disorder” sufficient for police to ask the Home Secretary to ban the protests, but the Metropolitan Transport Authority said on Saturday that it had not been expected.
Police have implemented more restrictions during the protests.
Demonstrators will be detained behind a police-managed fence more than 100 meters from the embassy grounds and will be arrested if they do not comply.
Precautions are also being taken to ensure that the presence of demonstrators does not unnecessarily disrupt other sensitive facilities, such as synagogues, near the start point or along the route.
Police also said that no observation decks or other stalls should be erected in the designated area of Marble Arch, and that those participating in the procession should not deviate from the route.
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Ahead of the protests, Commander Kyle Gordon, who is in charge of police operations, said: “We will ensure that protests take place lawfully, minimize disruption to wider public life and reduce the cumulative impact.” “We’re there to make sure it’s done in a very considered way.” About London’s communities and those who feel most vulnerable in the current climate.
“The protests we have seen since October have thankfully been largely peaceful and police enforcement must take this into account. We hope this Saturday will be the same. ”
“Unfortunately, we nevertheless regularly see police officers having to deal with placarding and other hate speech-related crimes.
“We do not underestimate the fear this causes or the impact such criminal and unacceptable behavior has on wider community relations,” Commander Gordon added.
“We appeal to all those taking part in Saturday’s protests to act within the law and consider the impact of their actions on the safety of others. For those who fail to do so, We will take action without hesitation.”