During a demonstration in Westminster, 3 police officers sustained injuries, and 40 individuals were arrested, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police.
One officer sustained a serious facial injury after being struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd. The Met reported that the suspect responsible for the incident has not yet been identified, and investigations are ongoing.
The arrests were made in connection with various offences, including assaults on emergency workers, obstruction of the highway, and breaches of the Public Order Act.
The protest, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups, commenced in Whitehall at 18:00 BST and was scheduled to conclude two hours later. While the “vast majority” of the estimated 8,000 to 10,000 protesters dispersed without incident, approximately 500 individuals remained to continue their demonstration.
As the event extended beyond the designated timeframe, a breakaway march ensued, leading to police intervention. Some individuals resisted arrest, prompting officers to utilize force to disperse the crowd and effectuate arrests.
Subsequently, a breakaway faction of the protest proceeded to Bridge Street, outside Westminster Tube station, where police established cordons. Law enforcement officers entered the crowd around 22:00 to apprehend individuals suspected of instigating the unauthorized protest.
The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, which organized the demonstration, cited the urgency of calling for a ceasefire in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that resulted in fatalities among Palestinian civilians.
