Violent clashes have broken out at a central London demonstration in support of the banned group Palestine Action, with the Met Police making multiple arrests. Tensions rose in Westminster on Saturday as hundreds of people gathered for the rally – with the protest taking on an increasingly anti-police tone featuring chants of “shame on you” and “you’re supporting genocide”.
Police drew their batons during violent clashes in Parliament Square. One protester was seen with blood streaming down his face behind a barrier after being arrested. Hundreds of people were risking arrest at the protest as they showed support for Palestine Action, which was banned by the Government in July and designated a terrorist organisation. Scotland Yard said its officers experienced physical and verbal abuse as they arrested people for backing the group. The force said: “Officers continue to make arrests of individuals showing support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action at the Defend Our Juries protest.
“There has been a co-ordinated effort to prevent officers carrying out their duties, which has included physical and verbal abuse. A number of arrests have now been made for assault.”
In a statement later shared on social media, the force also said: “Officers policing the Defend Our Juries protest in Parliament Square have been subjected to an exceptional level of abuse including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse.
“Any assaults against officers will not be tolerated and arrests have already been made. We will identify all those responsible and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”
The Met confirmed around 150 people have been arrested so far. Ahead of the protest, the force had warned: “Expressing support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act. Where our officers see offences, we will make arrests.”
There were frantic scenes in the area throughout the afternoon, as officers forced their way through crowds carrying arrested protesters, had screaming arguments with demonstrators and had water and plastic bottles thrown at them – while several protesters fell over in a crush at one point.
Parliament Square Green remained largely peaceful, with the violence occurring particularly on neighbouring streets.
Several hundred protesters, many of them elderly, spent the day on the grass, with signs reading “I support Palestine Action”.
Elsewhere in the square, dozens of doctors in their scrubs – with badges pinned to them identifying their roles, including doctor, surgeon and physio – unfurled a banner reading “medical duty & terror law”, while families of Holocaust survivors held a sign which said: “Holocaust survivor descendants against genocide”.
The march reached Whitehall at around 2pm, with speeches taking place afterwards.
Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said it believed some 1,500 people had attended the rally.