Police arrest 10 Youth Demand activists in Westminster
Pro-Palestine Youth Demand protesters planning to sabotage the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament this morning have been arrested by police.
The Metropolitan Police have arrested 10 members of the action group who were found outside Westminster, with more arrests taking place at Victoria Embankment Gardens where dozens more have gathered.
The individuals who are calling for the UK to stop sending arms to Israel and for a halt on new oil and gas licences were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after the group stated it was planning to disrupt the historic day.
It comes as King Charles and Queen Camilla make their way to Parliament to meet the new Prime Minister as he unveils his plans for Britain.
The London police force added that another organised protest by Republic had been planned to take place alongside Parliament Street today, but demonstrators were banned from using whistles or sound amplifiers.
Protesters from Youth Demand gather at Victoria Embankment in Westminster to protest against Israel’s retaliation to the October 7 attacks
A protester is arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police in Westminster on suspicion to cause a public nuisance
King Charles and Queen Camilla travel from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament this morning
On social media the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Last week, Youth Demand said they planned to disrupt the event. An hour ago, officers arrested 10 of them in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
‘A further 20 to 25 have now gathered in Victoria Embankment Gardens and further arrests are being made.’
Days ago the group made calls for supporters to assemble at the gardens today to protest the new Prime Minister’s handling over the Israel-Hamas war.
The group openly announced on social media that it planned to disrupt today’s State Opening of Parliament, as they call to end the sale of UK weapons to Israel.
In the first of a series of entries, the group said: ‘Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire. But we need actions, not words.
‘That’s why Youth Demand will disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.’
‘Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire. But we need actions, not words,’ it added. ‘That’s why Youth Demand will disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.’
It went on to say: ‘We disrupt because it is our duty to fight back in every way we non-violently can, and because we refuse to despair, but instead are full of hope that another way is possible.’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seen leaving Number 10 this morning ahead of the State Opening of Parliament
Police have arrested 10 members of Youth Demand outside Westminster ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. Pictured: A further 20-25 in Victoria Embankment Gardens
There were also other anti-monarchy protesters who lined the streets in Westminster this morning
It comes just days after the group, which is also calling for action on climate change, held a demonstration near the Cenotaph on Monday.
It is not the first time the group has targeted the Labour leader. In April, while still in opposition, Youth Demand turned up at Sir Keir’s home in north London.
A court later heard that the PM’s wife, Victoria Starmer, was ‘forced out of her own home’ after the activists staged a pro-Palestine protest on their doorstep.
The group hung a banner that read ‘Starmer stop the killing’ surrounded by red hand prints and lay out rows of children’s shoes, representing the deaths of youngsters in Gaza.
The move led to widespread outrage from MPs on all sides of the political spectrum with then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating bluntly ‘we cannot and will not tolerate this’.
But just last month Mr Sunak was also targeted by the group when one of the protesters staged a vile ‘dirty protest’ at the former Prime Minsiter’s home in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
In April, Youth Demand held a pro-Palestine protest outside Sir Keir’s North London home
This was the shocking moment an activist targeted the lake at Rishi Sunak’s mansion
Oliver Clegg, a 21-year-old student protester from Manchester, appeared to carry out a disgusting act at Mr Sunak’s Grade-II listed Georgian manor house last month.
Clegg was filmed walking through a garden gate wearing wellies and a yellow coat, before taking it off to reveal the ‘Eat s*** Rishi’ shirt as he waded into the lake and squatted down.
This morning, other anti-royal protesters were also seen lining the streets holding placards that said ‘Not My King’.
There were also groups of royal fans who waved Union Jack Flags and ‘God Save the King’ banners’.
The King is expected to deliver his speech to MPs and Lords at around 11.30am. It will be the second of his reign after opening Parliament in November, where he paid tribute to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.
This is a breaking news story, more follows.
