Police have made nine arrests in central London at a pro-Palestine protest in central London attended by hundreds of thousands of people.
Among those arrested by Metropolitan Police officers were three people who were accused of inciting racial hatred and one person who it is alleged had an offensive placard.
Around 1,700 Metropolitan Police officers monitored the demonstration, which was was the seventh national pro-Palestinian march held in London following Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel.
The rally taking place comes after the UK and US carried out air strikes against Houthi bases in Yemen after the Iran-backed rebel group repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Several protesters made references to the military action, with one man holding a placard claiming the UK and US “want war” and that Yemen “supports Palestine”.
In a statement the Metropolitan Police said the majority of those who attended the protests “did so peacefully and lawfully”.
Arrests at the rally included three people, who were detained on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation, which is an offence under the Terrorism Act, after handing out leaflets.
One speaker told crowds at Parliament Square that RAF planes were “flying where they do not belong”.
Other people speaking to the crowds included former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the president of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald, who called for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.
Ms McDonald told crowds that Palestinian freedom was possible, saying: “When I say this, standing in London, in common cause with you, (having) walked our own journey out of conflict, building peace for 25 years, this can happen.
“This must happen and we will ensure that it does.”
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, accused the British Government of “complicity” with Israel.
He said Palestine was a “nation of freedom fighters”, saying: “I stand before you with a broken heart, but not a broken spirit.”
Mr Zomlot congratulated South Africa for bringing a genocide case against Israel at the UN’s International Court of Justice.
The seventh National March for Palestine also featured an appearance by Little Amal, a giant puppet of a Syrian child refugee, which joined a group of Palestinian children.
The 3.5-metre (around 11.5ft) puppet became an international symbol of human rights after it journeyed 5,000 miles from the Turkish-Syrian border to Manchester in July 2021.
Prior to the protest, the force warned those who “intentionally push the limit” on placards and slogans would face being arrested.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said he had been briefed by the Met’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on plans to “ensure order and safety” during the protest.
Today’s protests formed part of a ‘global day of action’ against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which saw protests take place in more than 60 cities, including several in the UK and Ireland.
A 70-year-old woman was charged with a driving offence after a car collided with a small number of people during a pro-Palestine demonstration in Edinburgh.
Police Scotland said it had received reports of minor injuries, but no-one needed medical attention.
Photographs on social media showed a black Seat Leon surrounded by protesters and police officers on The Mound in the city centre on Saturday afternoon.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.30pm on Saturday, we were made aware of a road crash involving a car and a small number of pedestrians in Mount Place, Edinburgh.
“Officers received reports of minor injuries from pedestrians, but no medical attention was required.
“A 70-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a driving offence.
“A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”
At another rally in Dublin thousands of people marched through the city centre waving Palestinian flags and holding placards, which criticised the Irish, US and Israeli government’s stance on then conflict.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
