London's Met Police chief accused of bias after addressing pro-Israel group

London's Metropolitan Police chief, Mark Rowley, has come under fire after he told a pro-Israel group on Sunday that his force imposed unprecedented restrictions on a major pro-Palestine rally in London on Saturday that led to 77 arrests.

According to estimates by the organisers, the rally drew over 100,000 people. No previous pro-Palestine rally since 7 October 2023 has seen organisers arrested.

The Met has been widely criticised for initially approving the organising coalition's proposed pro-Gaza march from the BBC headquarters to Whitehall but then reversing course after political pressure.

Pro-Israel groups, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, MPs and peers had reportedly urged Rowley to reroute the protest.

Police said in early January that the route was too close to two synagogues, although this reasoning was criticised by nearly a thousand British Jews, including prominent figures, in an open letter last week.

Read more: London's Met Police chief accused of bias after addressing pro-Israel group