Palestine solidarity march in London

Pro-Palestinian protests have descended into violence as activists marching in support of the state’s civilian population ahead of an anticipated Israeli ground invasion take to UK streets.

Police were placed on standby today as thousands of people took to the streets of London, with one commander warning participants that anyone calling for “jihad” against Israel would be arrested.

Police expected about 100,000 people to join the demonstration in London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, with other rallies organised elsewhere in the UK – including in Manchester and Glasgow.

London’s protest now appears to have descended into violence, with videos posted on social media showing scuffles breaking out between protesters and what onlookers have described as “British nationalists”.

Footage shows some pro-Palestine activists fighting with members of an opposing group, whose organisation has not been identified.

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Social media user Mahyar Tousi posted the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, as protesters arrived in Westminster this afternoon.

The footage showed crowds of protesters pressing together and jostling against another group as police intervened and attempted to separate them.

Mr Tousi later claimed to have been attacked by some pro-Palestinian protesters, adding in a follow-up post that a police officer was injured, and that his group was “being protected by the police at Foreign Office”.

The Met Police confirmed that a suspect was arrested in Whitehall “after a Police Officer was assaulted” earlier today, and that they were placed in custody while the unnamed officer was looked after by medics en route to hospital.

Officers policing the protest also announced the arrest of a man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and making threats to kill in Waterloo Road just after 1.30pm after he was heard shouting “racist remarks”.

Senior police have warned that Iranian agents are deliberately stoking Gaza protests ahead of today’s demonstrations, with The Times reporting that counterterrorism officers have privately said that Tehran is trying to heighten tensions at rallies.

They publication said the officers “have warned of increased hostile-state activity in Britain” which is “directly linked to the Iranian regime”.

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The hostile activity, they said, includes a campaign of online disinformation, and the presence of some Iranian operatives physically attending protests.

Police have promised to come down hard on some protesters, with Kyle Gordon, who is leading the Metropolitan Police’s command team, telling a police briefing last week that officers would “intervene” if anyone was heard calling for “jihad” against Israel.

He said: “If somebody is calling for jihad specifically against Israel the officers will intervene, gather the information, report it back into us and we’ll be working with colleagues (from counter-terrorism) in relation to what the best course of action is.”

He added: “We’ve been clear over the last week that wherever possible we will police up to the line of the law.

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Kyle Gordon, who is leading the force’s command team, told a press briefing yesterday: “If somebody is calling for jihad specifically against Israel the officers will intervene, gather the information, report it back into us and we’ll be working with colleagues (from counter-terrorism) in relation to what the best course of action is.”

He added: “We’ve been clear over the last week that wherever possible we will police up to the line of the law.

“Our most experienced and knowledgeable officers are working on the policing of these events, making sure we are utilising all legislation to its fullest extent.

“I would encourage anyone who sees any crimes happening in the moment to report it to the nearest police officer.”

“Any footage or images of potential crimes should be reported to us – we have specialist teams whose role is to scour thousands of pieces of content identifying crime.”

A video emerged of a pro-Palestinian protester chanting “jihad” at one event last week, but officers had said no offences were identified in the footage from the demonstration.

In central London today, demonstrators gathered with banners and posters and let off fireworks and red and green flares. Some chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, despite controversy around the slogan’s meaning.

A woman was knocked over by a police horse after the animal was startled by fireworks but appeared to be fine when she was brought back to her feet.

More than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are on duty for the demonstration, the force announced on X, formerly Twitter.

Several conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act, including that protesters should follow a specified route and should not gather in a specified area outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington.

Yesterday London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, posted on X: “Ahead of the weekend let me be clear: antisemitism and other hate crime will not be tolerated. The Met will do everything in its power to tackle hate.

“I remain in close contact with the Commissioner, and continue to support his calls for the Govt to review hate laws & guidance.”

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley this week differed with ministers over how to police pro-Palestine protesters using the phrase “jihad”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signalled that police are unlikely to be given more powers to address chants deemed to be extremist after the comments at last Saturday’s rally.

That is despite suggestions from Sir Mark that laws may need to be redrawn following concerns about gaps in current anti-extremism legislation.

Scotland Yard has pointed out that jihad has “a number of meanings”.

Max Hill, the outgoing director of public prosecutions, has said that calling for jihad is not automatically a criminal offence.

The head of the Crown Prosecution Service told The Daily Telegraph: “In any case arising from the current protests, there needs to be a very careful consideration of the actual circumstances in which something is said, or a flag is waved or actions are taken.”

As the Palestinian death toll mounts, with the Hamas-controlled Gazan health ministry saying more than 7,000 people have died, calls for a ceasefire are growing among UK politicians.

Downing Street has insisted that such a move would “only benefit Hamas” and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has joined the Government in supporting “humanitarian pauses”.

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