Met Police block lots of of pro-Palestine marchers from gathering close to central London synagogue
The Metropolitan Police have blocked today’s pro-Palestine protestors from gathering near a central London synagogue.
Today’s protest targeting the BBC had been set to begin with marchers congregating outside Broadcasting House in Portland Place at 1pm this afternoon.
But the Metropolitan Police have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act banning protestors from gathering in the area as it risks causing ‘serious disruption’ to a nearby synagogue on the Jewish holy day.
Alternatively, the Met said it had ‘identified an area reasonably close to Portland Place where the assembly can take place.’
A statement from the police force added: ‘It [the protest] was due to take place in close proximity to a nearby synagogue on the Sabbath which, as we have clearly set out ahead of previous protests, would be likely to cause serious disruption to the life of Jewish Londoners attending religious services at that place of worship.
‘We have a responsibility to prevent serious disruption and we have used our powers under the Public Order Act to do so.
‘We also recognise the important rights of people to protest and we have no wish to limit those, unless to prevent serious disruption as above.
‘Accordingly, we have identified an area reasonably close to Portland Place where the assembly can take place. Officers will be deployed in the area to ensure the conditions are followed and to deal with any incidents.’
Police have blocked today’s pro-Palestine march in central London from going ahead near a synagogue (Pictured: A protest on January 18)
The Metropolitan Police have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act banning protestors from gathering in the area as it risks causing ‘serious disruption’ (Pictured: A protest on January 18)
77 people were arrested during a pro-Palestine protest in London organised by The Palestine Solidarity Campaign on January 18
News of the Met’s decision to block congregators from gathering in Portland Place comes just hours after a pro-Palestine protestor climbed Big Ben in an incident which sparked a huge emergency response in Westminster.
At around 7.24am, onlookers were left stunned to see the barefoot marcher climbing Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament waving a Palestinian flag.
Footage of the moment showed the man yelling: ‘I’m not going anywhere – free Palestine.’
One witness, who described the climber as a ‘Poundland Spiderman,’ told MailOnline: ‘I was cycling to work when I noticed him climbing up Big Ben.
‘He looked like he was live streaming himself or on a video call or something. I assumed he was a free-runner influencer as he seemed very relaxed up there.’
Both the Met Police and the London Fire Brigade were called to the scene at around 7.30am this morning ‘to reports of a person climbing part of the Palace of Westminster.’
Police have banned the protest from going ahead in Portland Place, central London
Protestors have been urged by the Met to instead congregate in an area on Regent Street (pictured in blue)
A Pro-Palestine protester climbed Big Ben barefoot as emergency services raced to the scene this morning
Donald Trump’s world-renowned Scottish golf course was also targeted by pro-Palestine protestors this morning
‘Gaza is not 4sale’ was sprayed in 3-metre-high letters across a green on the plush Scottish course
The white gates to the plush resort have been daubed in paint filled with expletives
In another protest in the United Kingdom this morning, Donald’s Trump’s golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, was targeted by protestors claiming the war-torn strip is ‘not for sale.’
The protests comes in response to President Trump’s claim a little under a month ago that he is ‘committed to buying and owning Gaza’ in a move which would see two millions Palestinians relocated to neighbouring countries.
Trump’s plans to create the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ sparked fury across the world.
Pictures from the Scottish links course this morning, March 8, show foul-mouthed insults sprayed across the plush estate where buildings have been smeared in red paint.
Several of the course’s most prestigious holes were too dug up by protest group Palestine Action, while ‘Gaza is not 4sale’ was sprayed in 3-metre-high letters across a green.
Speaking on social media, the group threatened: ‘Whilst Trump attempts to treat Gaza as his property, he should know his own property is within reach.’
Protests today in the capital are still scheduled to begin at 1pm but at nearby Regent Street, away from the initially chosen Portland Place.
