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Corbyn and McDonnell to Face Police Interview After 77 Arrests at Static Pro-Palestinian Rally in London

Jan 19, 2025, 04:29 PM

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell are set to be interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan Police following their participation in a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday. The rally, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, saw a total of 77 arrests, with police alleging that the event's conditions were breached by organizers and participants. The police claim that a group of protesters broke through a police line near Trafalgar Square, though both Corbyn and McDonnell have denied these allegations, stating that they were part of a delegation intending to lay flowers in memory of children killed in Gaza, and that this action was facilitated by the police. The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident, with ten individuals charged with public order offenses, 24 people bailed, and 48 people still in custody. The rally was adjusted to a static event after police blocked plans for a march past the BBC and near a synagogue, citing concerns over potential disruption, coinciding with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.