Four arrested as Pro-Palestinian supporters march by means of London

Four people were arrested as thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters marched through London in the first Gaza demonstration held under the new Labour government, the Metropolitan Police said.

The individuals were arrested on suspicion of public order offences on Saturday afternoon.

One man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence relating to a placard, while three more were held on suspicion of breaching Public Order Act conditions imposed on the march, the force said on X.

Tens of thousands were calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the Met Police deploying 700 officers to stop any crime or disorder.

The march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, formed in Russell Square before following a route through the city and ending with speeches near Portcullis House.

Previous versions of the march which have taken place regularly since October had ended at Whitehall.

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered opposite Downing Street and was marshalled by Met officers, despite the conditions requiring the protest to remain on the Victoria Embankment.

Jeremy Corbyn, re-elected as an independent MP for Islington North on Friday, was among those in attendance at the demonstration.

The former Labour leader told protesters on stage: ‘Palestine was on the ballot in this election – and I promise to stay true to my word to stand up for the Palestinian people.

‘We said it to the Tories, and now we will say it to Labour: a government that sells arms to Israel is a government that is complicit in crimes against humanity.

‘A change in government doesn’t change the facts that the people of Gaza are still being murdered in their sleep.

‘And it doesn’t change the fact that there is only one path to a just and lasting peace: an end to the occupation of Palestine.’

Some protestors were spotted holding placards lampooning David Lammy, Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer just 24 hours after Labour came to power.

Police had also been prepared for a rumoured Just Stop Oil protest to be held in Parliament Square, which did not appear to take place.

The Met had used powers to place conditions on the protests to ‘ensure we minimise serious disruption to the community and balance the rights of all’, the force said.

Speaking before the march, superintendent Martin Kirby, who is leading policing in London this weekend, said: ‘As always the goal is to protect the right to peaceful protest while minimising the impact of these events, including on London’s Jewish communities.

‘Police do not have the power to ban protest unless there is a risk of serious disorder.

‘We have been liaising with the PSC throughout this week and will have a significant number of officers on duty to maintain law and order.

‘Officers will be on hand to ensure the events pass off without issue and will step in to deal with any crime or disorder should it occur.

‘We will be visible and engaging with those involved in the events and if you see anything of concern we would ask you to talk to officers in the area.’

The force said that since October it has used conditions under the Public Order Act ‘more extensively than during any other period of protest in recent memory’.

These have been in relation to the route, duration, start and finish times, details of any static assemblies and the ability of those involved to get near ‘sensitive sites or into communities where fears are most heightened’.

A number of conditions were put in place for the PSC event, including:

– Any person participating in the PSC and coalition partners’ procession must not deviate from the route shown on the associated map.

– Any person participating in the PSC and coalition partners’ rally must remain within the area indicated in red on the associated map.

– The PSC and coalition partners’ stage may only be set up in Embankment in the place shaded blue on the associated map.

– The PSC and coalition partners’ rally must conclude by 5.30pm.