300,000 have taken place in march, say policeAbout 300,000 people attended the pro-Palestine march today, the Met have confirmed.
The BBC reports that at the moment, the march is extending from the Hilton hotel on Park Lane to the US embassy in Nine Elms – a distance of roughly 2.5 miles (4km).
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Police say “several hundred” counterprotesters came to the march in LondonMatt Twist, assistant commissioner at the Met, has given an update on today’s events on social media.
He said that “several hundred” counterprotesters arrived in groups in central London just after 9am and seemed “intent on confrontation and intent on violence”, but there were “no issues” with the pro-Palestine march – the “biggest march” seen since the Israel-Gaza conflict began, involving “tens of thousands” of people.
He added:
We’ve had arrests for possession of a knife, possession of a baton, possession of Class A drugs and assault on an emergency worker.
There are a number of groups within this counter-protest who have split off and seem intent on seeking confrontation with the main Palestinian march and the policing operation is being effective in preventing that happening.
The main Palestinian march formed up as intended at 12.00 and moved off at 12.45. It’s moving along the prescribed route and there are tens of thousands of people. This is the biggest march we’ve seen in this phase. At the moment, there are no issues with it.
It’s being closely monitored by police and we also have police looking out for any troublemakers who might be intent on causing disruption or seeking a confrontation with people on that main march.”
🗣️Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist update on today’s events.
‘It’s being closely monitored by police. And we also have police looking out for any troublemakers that might be intent on causing disruption’ pic.twitter.com/irXbxVW0g4
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023Police say they are looking for two individuals who have appeared in a photograph that has been posted on social media.
Officers are actively looking for these individuals and will take proactive action when they are identified.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023
Rajeev Syal
The Met is seeking more than a dozen individuals who appear to have carried antisemitic signs or led antisemitic chants during the pro-Palestine march.
300,000 have taken place in march, say policeAbout 300,000 people attended the pro-Palestine march today, the Met have confirmed.
The BBC reports that at the moment, the march is extending from the Hilton hotel on Park Lane to the US embassy in Nine Elms – a distance of roughly 2.5 miles (4km).
The Metropolitan police have said officers in Whitehall today have “faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier”.
In a statement posted on social media site X, the force said:
There is a remembrance event under way at the Cenotaph.
Officers have prevented those not involved in getting on to Whitehall so it can take place without disruption, as we committed.
They have faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier.
Anyone genuinely wishing to observe the event could do so from behind barriers on the pavement which is open along one entire side of Whitehall.
Officers’ efforts are on keeping the road itself clear around the Cenotaph.”
There is a remembrance event underway at the Cenotaph. Officers have prevented those not involved getting onto Whitehall so it can take place without disruption, as we committed.
They have faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier.… pic.twitter.com/tHnnKyRrKL
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023 Number of arrests climbs to 92Police have made a further 10 arrests, taking the total to 92.
Arrests were made for offences including the possession of offensive weapons, affray and possession of drugs, the Met police said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
These are in addition to the arrests made to prevent a breach of the peace in Tachbrook Street, the force said.
Here are some more images from our photographer at the scene:
A person holding a ‘Jews for Palestine’ placard. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The GuardianFlags and placards at the pro-Palestine march. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The GuardianA woman holds a ‘Love march’ sign at London’s pro-Palestine rally. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The GuardianPA Media reports a group of pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on to a raised platform on the corner of Vauxhall Bridge, a firework was set off and one person was clutching a smoke flare.
Police appeared to have stopped a small group of counterprotesters from climbing some stairs on the Pimlico side of the bridge.
Police officers are preventing some people from leaving the White Swan pub on Vauxhall Bridge Road.
An officer at the scene told the PA news agency: “We’re stopping some people from coming out as they might cause some aggro.”
Pro-Palestine protesters on the main march booed at those kettled inside the pub as they walked by.
Police have arrested 82 counterprotesters to prevent a ‘breach of the peace’Police have arrested 82 people in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, central London, to prevent a breach of the peace, Scotland Yard said.
The force said:
They’re part of a large group of counterprotesters we have been monitoring who have tried to reach the main protest march.
We will continue to take action to avoid the disorder that would likely take place if that happened.
A Palestinian flag has been wrapped around a first world war memorial near London’s Wellington Arch, PA reports.
The statue commemorating those in the Machine Gun Corps was seen with the flag hanging from its waist.
Protesters were later seen by PA reporters climbing the statue, with one holding a megaphone and shouting: “Free, free Palestine”.
The crowd is chanting: “In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians”, according to PA.
They are also shouting “Rishi Sunak’s a wasteman” and “Rishi Sunak, shame on you. Keir Starmer, shame on you”, among other chants and rallying cries.
A woman uses a megaphone on the march in London. Photograph: Alishia Abodunde/ReutersThe Met has been posting on social media about the number of arrests made at the march.
So far, it has announced it has made two: one for assaulting a police officer and a second for possession of a controlled substance.
It is reviewing footage of the people involved in the disorder that took place earlier and identifying whether any of the people who have been detained in the group on Bridge Street should be arrested.
We are reviewing footage & identifying those involved in earlier disorder within the group detained on Bridge Street.
Those identified will be arrested & we will continue to use our powers under S60 & S60AA of the Public Order Act, to search for weapons & remove face coverings. pic.twitter.com/MoyREYHkTD
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023The BBC is reporting that 50 counterprotesters have been arrested, but this has not yet been confirmed by the Met.
One protester has made their feelings about Suella Braverman clear.
A protester holds a placard calling for the dismissal of the home secretary, Suella Braverman. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesPolice have encircled a group of about 15 people, some clutching beer cans, outside the Duke of York pub on Victoria Street opposite Victoria Station, according to the PA news agency.
This is close to where the pro-Palestine rally is passing.
An officer told the PA news agency they were counterprotesters who had caused “a bit of trouble” so they have been put under a “breach of the peace cordon” to keep them away from the main march.