Scores arrested as police block pro-Palestine protesters in London
More than 70 protesters were arrested during a large pro-Palestine demonstration in London on Saturday, including one of the organisers of the protest.
Thousands of people gathered in Whitehall in central London calling for an end to the war in Gaza and an end to the UK's arming of Israel.
Protesters were blocked by police from marching from Whitehall to Trafalgar's Square, with several people arrested for "breaching conditions" for the protest.
Amongst those arrested was Chris Nineham, a member of the Stop the War coalition and the chief steward of the national Palestine marches.
Stop the War said: "This is an outrageous assault on the Palestine movement. It is an unacceptable assault on civil liberties. Chris Nineham must be released without charge. We refuse to be intimidated."
Organisers had sought to march towards the BBC's headquarters in Portland Place, but were last week restricted from doing so by the police due to the building's proximity to a synagogue.
"The Metropolitan Police's decision to block the Palestine march is an outrageous assault on democracy and freedom of expression," the Muslim Association of Britain said on Saturday.
"Silencing peaceful protesters standing against genocide in Gaza is shameful and unacceptable. This conduct has no place in our society."
Several people were arrested during a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday.
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) January 18, 2025
The Metropolitan Police attempted to impose a total restriction on the protest and block the demonstrators from marching pic.twitter.com/X8oTLuWX3t