Last weekend saw a large pro-Palestinian march in central London with around 300,000 people calling for a Gaza ceasefire. The march coincided with Armistice Day and was the biggest rally since the war began on 7 October between Hamas and Israel. However, this event was marred by incidents of violence and arrests.
The Metropolitan Police have revealed that 145 people were arrested on the day, the majority of whom were counter-protesters, and nine police officers were injured. The police force has also released footage of what it calls “unacceptable abuse” at Waterloo and Victoria stations, including instances of antisemitic language.
Police investigations into various offences, including inciting racial hatred and antisemitic hate crimes, are ongoing. Seven men aged between 23 and 75 have already been charged over other offences, including assault on an emergency worker, possession of weapons, drugs, and public order. Two of these individuals reside in London, with others coming from across the UK, including West Lothian, Manchester, Norfolk, Flintshire, and Kent.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the actions of those involved in crimes and called for them to face the full force of the law. He said that the “despicable actions of a minority of people” undermined “those who have chosen to express their views peacefully.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman criticised the police before the event, claiming that they had shown bias by letting it go ahead. She is now under pressure to resign, and several of her colleagues have distanced themselves from her comments
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