Violent Clashes Erupt at Pro-Palestinian Rally: Four Police Officers Injured, 29 Arrested
Police Report Demonstrators Launching Fireworks, Resulting in Injuries to Four Officers
In London’s Trafalgar Square, during a pro-Palestinian protest, four police officers were injured and 29 individuals were arrested. The arrests were made for offences including inciting racial hatred, other racially motivated crimes, violence, and assaulting a police officer, as stated by the Metropolitan Police.
While most of the gathering was peaceful, some demonstrators climbed onto the square’s fountains and waved flags and banners. Unfortunately, there were incidents where fireworks were launched into crowds and towards police, resulting in the injuries to the officers.
As the evening progressed, there were scuffles with police and smaller groups of protesters began dispersing from the square. Over 1,300 officers were on duty in the area, with four of them sustaining injuries, according to the police.
One protester was observed carrying a banner with the message “Let’s keep the world clean” along with an image of an Israeli flag being thrown into a bin. A similar banner displayed at a protest in Warsaw drew condemnation from the Israeli ambassador to Poland, who deemed it as “blatant antisemitism”.
Additionally, some protesters chanted the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which has generated controversy over its meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously characterised the slogan as antisemitic and asserted that it is widely interpreted as a call for the destruction of Israel. However, pro-Palestinian protesters dispute this interpretation.
In Trafalgar Square, effigies of deceased infants were left on the ground alongside images of children and candles.
(PA)
The Metropolitan Police has implemented a dispersal order for the vicinity of the square, which will be in effect until 1am.
Additionally, an order has been issued granting officers the authority to instruct individuals to remove any item used to conceal their identity, according to the police force.
Authorities have stated that they employed “retrospective facial recognition” to positively identify a 24-year-old man who was apprehended on suspicion of a racially aggravated offence after delivering a speech that was captured on film.
A total of nine individuals were arrested for public order offences, with two of these being racially aggravated, and three others were apprehended for assaulting a police officer.
70,000 #Londoners came today. Amazing lively atmosphere right now, no one is going home as it gets dark in #London.@FriendsofAlAqsa #FreePalestine
— ACT 4 PALESTINE 🇵🇸 – JAPAN (@act4pal4) November 4, 2023
Two additional individuals have been apprehended on suspicion of violating section 12 of the Terrorism Act, following their public display of a banner endorsing a proscribed organisation.
Metropolitan Police Commander Karen Findlay remarked, ‘The overwhelming majority of individuals conducted themselves peacefully during an extraordinarily bustling day in central London, with protests taking place in several locations necessitating a significant police presence.
‘It is disheartening that once again, various splinter groups were responsible for conduct that has no room in London, and we are resolute in our commitment to address this firmly. Fireworks were aimed at officers, resulting in injuries to four of them.
‘Today, we swiftly dealt with factions that broke away from the main protest. Officers intervened to prevent further disruption, utilizing the full spectrum of powers at their disposal. This effective intervention ensured that Londoners could carry on with their daily activities.’
