Police in London are investigating a pro-Palestinian rally that took place in the city center and believe that organisers sought to breach conditions that had been imposed on the demonstration. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell are reportedly going to voluntarily attend a London police station to be interviewed under caution in relation to the event. Nine other people have been charged with public order offenses following arrests that took place at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally. Chris Nineham, a chief steward on the march, and Corbyn’s brother, Piers Corbyn, are among those facing charges.
Police had issued conditions for the rally under the Public Order Act, preventing the demonstration from taking place near to a synagogue due to risking serious disruption to Jewish congregants attending services on a holy day. A further condition also banned the gathering from taking place outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House. Nonetheless, around several thousand people peacefully gathered for a static rally which was confined to Whitehall. However, following the rally, a group of protesters attempted to march, which resulted in police making several arrests.
Both Corbyn and McDonnell have stated that they did nothing wrong and intend to dispute what they describe as a “not accurate description of events at all.” Despite their comments, they will still attend interviews at a central London police station voluntarily this afternoon. Corbyn now sits as an independent Member of Parliament for Islington North, while Hayes and Harlington MP McDonnell is also independent after Labour suspended the whip from him in July 2024.
Apart from the nine people charged, a further 24 had been bailed and 48 remain in custody. The rally occurred as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal. An earlier version of this article mistakenly claimed that ten people had been charged, but the Metropolitan Police confirmed that one had been named in error
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