News reports and official announcements from the Metropolitan Police

London Police Lift Restrictions on Pro-Palestine March; Tens of Thousands Protest, Eight Arrested

Sep 7, 2024, 01:46 PM

The Metropolitan Police in London initially imposed restrictions on a pro-Palestine march organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, leading to significant backlash from organizers and participants. The restrictions included a two-hour delay in the start time. However, after a week of negotiations and public outcry, the police lifted some of these restrictions. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central London, including at Piccadilly Circus, on Saturday, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to arms sales to Israel. Despite the police's initial attempts to delay the march, the event proceeded with conditions in place, such as not forming up until 12:00 and starting at 13:30. The protest highlighted ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, with participants calling for an end to the conflict. Eight people were arrested during the protest. The Stop the War Coalition stated, "With less than 24 hours to go, the Metropolitan police has dropped its attempt to frustrate our national march for Palestine."