LONDON, (Reuters) – More than 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London today, with police arresting nearly 100 far-right counter-protesters to stop them ambushing the main rally.
Skirmishes broke out between police and the far-right groups gathered to protest against the demonstration taking place on Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War One, when Britain commemorates its war dead.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the violence seen at the Cenotaph war memorial and also attacked “Hamas sympathisers” who joined the bigger rally, “singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest”.
Tensions had been running high before Saturday’s march – the biggest in a series to show support for the Palestinians and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip – after interior minister Suella Braverman called them “hate marches” led by “mobs”.
London’s Metropolitan Police had refused ministerial requests to block the event, saying they did not have indications that there would be serious violence, straining relations with the government. Sunak called again for a tougher line.
“All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law,” he said in a statement late on Saturday. “That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect.”
Police said there had been several hundred counter-protesters on the streets of central London, and skirmishes broke out near the Cenotaph war memorial early on.
Incidents continued throughout the day, with police in riot gear trying to contain protesters near parliament, in train stations and in side streets as they threw bottles. Footage showed police officers with batons working to control the crowds.
The police said they had arrested 82 counter-protesters to try to keep the peace. Another 10 arrests were made for other offences.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said on social media that the counter-protesters had seemed “intent on confrontation and intent on violence”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, said Braverman had inflamed tensions and emboldened the far-right by accusing the police of favouring “pro-Palestinian mobs” before the event.
Later, scuffles also broke out between police and pro-Palestinian protesters. Police said on X, formerly Twitter, that demonstrators had worn face masks and fired fireworks, and had been detained and searched.
OVER 300,000 JOIN MARCH
Police said more than 300,000 had joined the pro-Palestinian rally, while organisers put the figure at 800,000.
Some marchers chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, a rallying cry viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and a call for Israel’s eradication.
Others carried banners reading “Free Palestine”, “Stop the Massacre” and “Stop Bombing Gaza”.
Since Hamas’s assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7, there has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including Britain’s, and many citizens. But the Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.
About 21,000 people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Brussels on Saturday, and in Paris, left-wing lawmakers were among some 16,000 protesters who marched with pro-Palestinian banners and flags to call for a ceasefire.
Some French leftist politicians have welcomed President Emmanuel Macron’s call this week for a ceasefire and opposition to Israel’s bombing campaign.
Senior French lawmakers have called a protest against antisemitism for Sunday.
