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RISHI Sunak has slammed the “violent, wholly unacceptable” actions of counter-protesters and “Hamas sympathisers” on the pro-Palestinian march today.
The Prime Minister said “all criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law”, and the “unacceptable” scenes today were a “disrespect” to those being honoured on Remembrance Day.
It comes as Met Police confirmed officers have detained around 150 people and made 126 arrests amid violet clashes with the force.
The British Transport Police also stated they have made eight arrests in connection with the protests today, seven of which were in London.
Cops seized a hoard of weapons from counter-protesters including knives and a knuckleduster.
Assistant Commissioner, Matt Twist, said: “This operation took place in unique circumstances, against a backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, on Armistice Day and following a week of intense debate about protest and policing. These all combined to increase community tensions.”
He added the “extreme violence” from counter-protesters was “extraordinary and deeply concerning”.
“They arrived early, stating they were there to protect monuments, but some were already intoxicated, aggressive and clearly looking for confrontation,” continued the Assistant Commissioner.
“Abuse was directed at officers protecting the Cenotaph, including chants of “you’re not English any more”.
“This group were largely football hooligans from across the UK and spent most of the day attacking or threatening officers who were seeking to prevent them being able to confront the main march.
“Many in these groups were stopped and searched and weapons including a knife, a baton and knuckleduster were found as well as class A drugs.”
Tonight has seen continuing violence wreaking havoc on the streets of London.
Fireworks have been thrown at police, with some being struck in the face, around the Westminster area including Parliament Square and Whitehall.
Rows of blue lights could be seen as dozens of officers formed a line together to push back hoards of aggressive yobs.
Several thugs have been thrown to the floor by cops and restrained as a heavy police force tries to control protesters causing chaos.
Clashes between counter-protesters and pro-Palestine protesters have also emerged at London’s Trafalgar Square tonight.
Disturbing photographs showed one female counter-protester trying to kick a pro-Palestine marcher while another man walked towards them with a large wooden stick.
Nine police officers have now been injured – with two needing hospital treatment – after facing “extraordinary” violence today.
Their injuries are understood to include a fractured elbow and a dislocated hip.
A statement from the Met Police posted on X, this evening read: “Officers have detained a breakaway group of around 150 people from the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Grosvenor Place.
“The group were firing fireworks and many are wearing face coverings.
“Officers are using their Section 60 and 60AA powers to detain and search those involved.”
The counter-protests had been organised today amid fears pro-Palestine marches would interrupt Remembrance services.
Most people part of the counter-demonstration did not resort to violence and stopped to mark the silence at 11am.
But, fights have been breaking out amid a violent “minority” since cops tried to maintain a ring of steel around the Cenotaph earlier this morning.
As stated by the PM, the “despicable actions of a minority of people” undermined others who intended to “express their views peacefully”.
Fortunately the Met Police confirmed no counter-protesters were able to reach the Cenotaph today.
“Thanks to the considerable efforts of our officers, who put themselves in harm’s way, nobody was able to reach the Cenotaph, which was protected at all times,” their statement read.
‘Violent, wholly unacceptable scenes’
Mr Sunak’s full statement in response to the violent counter-protests read: “I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.
“The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully.
“Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms.
“What we have seen today does not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them.
“That is true for the EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest.
“The fear and intimidation the Jewish community have experienced over the weekend is deplorable.
“All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law. That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect.
“I will be meeting the Met Police Commissioner in the coming days.”
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper echoed the PM’s statement and said: “Today we have seen disgraceful scenes of far-right violence against police officers, and attempts to disrupt Armistice events, on a day when we pay our respect to all those who fought and died to protect our freedoms.
“We have also seen appalling cases of antisemitic hate, intimidation, and support for terrorist groups like Hamas, which must be unequivocally condemned.
“Both violence and hate crimes must face the full force of the law.”
The Met Office has now put in place a dispersal order in the London boroughs of the City of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.
This allows officers the power to disperse antisocial behaviour, as well as search for weapons and remove face coverings such as balaclavas.
It comes after police had doubled their numbers in the capital earlier today ahead of fears of violence as chants of “England till I die” and “Let us through” echoed through the streets.
Bottles were seen being thrown at cops during isolated scuffles, with far-right leader Tommy Robinson spotted walking with supporters through the streets.
Chaotic footage showed protesters being shoved to the floor and officers with batons in hand as they tried to control the crowds of counter-protesters who moved from Whitehall through to Chinatown.
Clashes again unfolded by Westminster Station, with footage showing swarms of crowds screaming at police.
A large group of counter-protesters were later detained in Bridge Street, just down from Westminster Bridge, with a line of police seen holding in dozens of people.
It comes as…
- Pro-Palestinian marches have begun through the streets of London – but will not pass by the memorial
- Counter-protesters were filmed throwing missiles at cops near the Cenotaph as chaotic clashes unfolded before 11am
- A number of arrests have already been made, including a man on suspicion of being in possession of a knife
- Suella Braverman has been blamed for the “emboldening” the clashes after claiming this week that police show favouritism towards left-wing demonstrators
Demonstrators also sparked red and green flares on Vauxhall Bridge and police could be seen stopping a group of counter-protesters climbing a flight of stairs on the side of the bridge.
Cops were said to also be stopping protestors who had been sitting inside a Vauxhall pub from confronting the march.
Footage in the hours that followed showed the yobs with balaclavas on, clashing with cops.
The group can be seen throwing bottles at police as they hold the Union Jack in the air while standing on Vauxhall bridge.
Meanwhile tense scenes erupted outside another pub, The Duke of York in Victoria street, as swarms of cops were filmed closing in on a large group of counter-protestors.
Forceful chants could be heard on the streets as officers tried to control the crowd.
Elsewhere, another woman was said to have been arrested after carrying a poster with a photo of Adolf Hitler.
‘AGGRESSION’
Meanwhile, people with Hamas-style headbands were seen a the march, too.
Cops have now vowed to find them, adding: “Officers are actively looking for these individuals and will take proactive action when they are identified.”
Elsewhere, at Victoria Station, poppy sellers were being forced to move as Pro-Palestine protesters filled the floor of the station.
Footage also showed minister Michael Gove getting caught up in the protests at a station.
Met Police earlier said they had been faced with “aggression” from the counter-protesters.
The force said: “The counter-protesters are not one cohesive group. There are different groups moving away from Whitehall towards other parts of central London. Officers are keeping track of them as they do.
“If their intention is to confront the main protest departing later today from Park Lane, we will use all the powers and tactics available to us to prevent that from happening.”
It added: “A group of counter-protesters who left Whitehall and moved into Chinatown confronted and threw missiles at officers who tried to engage with them.
A group of counter-protesters who left Whitehall and moved into Chinatown confronted and threw missiles at officers who tried to engage with them.
Met Police
“Additional officers have been deployed to the area to identify, locate and deal with those involved. Our priority is keeping the public safe. We will not tolerate disorder in central London today.”
Met Police added that there had been no arrests within the pro-Palestine demonstrators.
The chaos has seen calls for Home Secretary Suella Braverman to resign.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said Braverman has “emboldened” far-right protesters to attack police.
He tweeted: “The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also blamed Braverman for protesters’ clashes with police.
He said: “The scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words. The police’s job has been made much harder.
“The Met have my full support to take action against anyone found spreading hate and breaking the law.”
It comes as more than 300,000 pro-Palestine protesters set off from Palestine Solidarity Campaign from Park Lane at 1pm, and made their way towards the US Embassy.
Chants of “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire now” echoed through the streets as the group marched with flags and signs in hand.
But, before the national two minutes of silence at 11am fights were already breaking out between police and protesters.
More than 1,000 cops were drafted in from across the country to assist the 2,000 Met officers at today’s Armistice Day march and tomorrow’s Remembrance Sunday event in Whitehall.
Mr Taylor, the Met’s strategic gold commander in charge of the massive policing operation, warned of a zero tolerance policy to troublemakers.
In contrast to previous weeks, he said anyone chanting “Jihad” could face arrest with action being taken later to round up hatemongers caught on camera.
Mr Taylor said it was the biggest police operation ever mounted for any remembrance event.
I do believe that if the groups come together there will be serious disorder.
Laurence Taylor
British Transport Police this morning said that protesters were been banned from London railway stations, too.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said demonstrators could be arrested if they show up at London Waterloo Station, Victoria Station and Charing Cross between 10am and 11pm.
He said: “It’s important that people can use our rail network to safely travel, free from intimidation.”
However, the BTP confirmed just before 6.pm: “As we moved to our arrest phase in Waterloo Station, protesters began to disperse.
“No arrests were made. The station is clear now, and passengers are able to use the station as normal.”
