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Pro-Palestinian protests in central London have forced police to close Tower Bridge.
City of London Police announced on Saturday evening that the bridge would be closed to vehicles and pedestrians after large crowds were seen gathering on roads and sidewalks.
In videos posted on social media, demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza can be seen waving Palestinian flags and shouting “Liberate Palestine”.
The force confirmed Tower Bridge was closed at around 5.40pm “due to protests” and officers were at the scene. About 45 minutes later, police announced the bridge had been reopened.
London Police told X (formerly Twitter): “Tower Bridge is currently closed due to protests. Police officers are on the scene.”
It then said, “Tower Bridge has reopened. Thank you for your patience.”
This comes amid reports that the Palestine Solidarity Campaign is hoping to gather so many protesters that parliament will have to “lock its doors”. This happened after I defended my right to do something.
The group said the issue of security for MPs was “serious” but should not be used to “shield MPs from their democratic responsibilities”.
Ben Jamal, the group’s executive director, said on Wednesday that thousands of people had been “shamefully” refused entry to parliament as they tried to lobby parliamentarians to vote in favor of the Gaza ceasefire. He said it was one of the largest physical lobbying operations in history.
times “We want so many of you to come that we have to lock the doors of Parliament itself,” Jamal reportedly told the crowd at Wednesday’s protest.
Lord Lindsay Hoyle, the leader of the House of Commons, who is facing calls to resign after acting unconventionally during the SNP’s Opposition Day debate on the ceasefire, said some MPs were motivated to escalate Wednesday’s debate. It said it was prompted by concerns for the safety of lawmakers due to intimidation.
Jamal said his group “does not call for” protests outside the homes of MPs and believes they have the right to “respect for their privacy.”
The government’s czar of political violence has said police should have the power to “disperse” protests in parliament, MPs’ offices and around parliamentary chambers deemed a threat.
Baroness Walney, the Government’s adviser on political violence and disorder, said on Friday that the “aggressive threats against MPs” by “rioters” were being misinterpreted as “expressions of democracy”.
The commissioner, who submitted a government-commissioned review into how political groups’ actions could “lead to criminal activity and disruption to people’s lives” in December, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. , said he is calling on police to “uniformly stop them.” Protest outside a member of parliament’s house.