Rallies have been taking place in both London and Manchester today, despite condemnation from both police and politicians, as Sam Holder reports
Police say a total of 355 people have been arrested at a pro-Palestine march in London, which is taking place in defiance of calls from police and politicians to halt the protests.
The Metropolitan Police said they were continuing their operation in Trafalgar Square, where people are holding placards in support of Palestine Action and at Westminster Bridge where a banner backing the proscribed group was unfurled.
The Metropolitan Police said: “As of 5.20pm, 355 people had been arrested for supporting a proscribed organisation.
“The majority of people still remaining in Trafalgar Square are onlookers who are holding placards in support of Palestine Action. Arrests continue.”
Marches went ahead in Manchester and London on Saturday, despite calls for organisers to reconsider in the aftermath of Thursday’s deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had urged groups behind the demonstrations and attendees to “respect the grief of British Jews” and avoid causing further pain to mourners.
However a protest in central London campaigning against the proscription of Palestine Action, organised by a group called Defend Our Juries, went ahead.
The group said more than a thousand people have gathered at the square to hold a mass silent vigil protesting the proscription while the names of Palestinian children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict are read out.
Just after 1pm on Saturday, protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square began clapping before sitting down.
They chanted “free, free Palestine” and some began writing “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, while others held pre-written signs.
The Metropolitan Police arrested those who were displaying banners in support of Palestine Action.
Earlier, the force said it had arrested six people over a banner draped on Westminster Bridge in support of the banned group.
In a statement on Twitter, the Met said: “Officers have begun making arrests in Trafalgar Square where people are displaying placards in support of Palestine Action.
“The square is busy, but quite a few people in the crowd appear to be observing/supporting but not carrying placards themselves.”
A vicar, who had been sitting with her eyes closed and holding a poster saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, was among those arrested and carried out by police.
Some people in the crowd called police “shameful” and one said to officers “thanks for protecting us” as the woman was taken away.
Two elderly men were also seen being carried by each limb to the south-west side of the square, where officers and police vehicles are waiting to process the arrests.
A similar event, held by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, also took place.
The leaders of the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police have said covering such protests would stretch resources, as forces deploy extra officers to synagogues and other Jewish buildings to offer protection and reassurance in the aftermath of the attack.
Starmer had said events could cause further turmoil for families of victims and the Jewish communities.
Writing in The Jewish Chronicle, and The Jewish News, the Prime Minister said: “I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews this week.
“This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain.”
Meanwhile, the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, urged would-be attendees at the protest to “consider whether this is really the right time”.
He added: “You could do the responsible and sensitive thing and refrain, on this occasion, from protesting in a manner which is likely to add to the trauma currently being experienced by our Jewish community.”
Around 1,500 people, “including priests, vicars, pensioners and healthcare workers”, are expected to attend the protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.
Pro-Palestine protests in central London have seen thousands attend since Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
A demonstration near Downing Street on Thursday saw 40 people arrested after clashes with police. Six arrests were “for assaults on police officers”, the Metropolitan Police said.
The proscription of Palestine Action has become a focal point of the campaign for activists in recent months.
The previous two events have seen a total of 1,422 people arrested, the majority for supporting a proscribed organisation.
The Met has continued to urge the group to call off its plans.
In a statement, the force’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “At a time when we want to be deploying every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities, we are instead having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Saturday in support of a terrorist organisation.
“By deliberately choosing to encourage mass law breaking on this scale, Defend Our Juries are drawing valuable resources away from the communities of London at a time when they are needed most.”
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