Protesters and counter-protesters have been barred from holding marches right this moment.
There was a big police presence in London (Picture: Getty)
Three arrests have been made amid a protest and counter-protest for Al Quds Day, police stated. Scotland Yard stated on March 13 it was braced for a “tough public order” setting, with no less than 1,000 officers drafted in to handle the group set to assemble on Sunday.
In a submit printed on X on the afternoon of March 15, the Metropolitan Police stated: “Officers have made three arrests, one for exhibiting assist for a proscribed organisation, one for harmful driving and a 3rd for threatening and abusive behaviour.” Al Quds Day demonstrators shouted the controversial “from the river to the ocean” chant and held photos of the late chief of Iran at a static protest in London.
Residence Secretary Shabana Mahmood granted the police’s bid for a month-long ban on the annual march organised by the Islamic Human Rights Fee (IHRC), making it the primary time such a restriction on protest had been imposed since 2012.
Nonetheless, individuals may nonetheless legally assemble and participate in a so-called “static protest”. These participating within the Al Quds day protest needed to assemble on Albert Embankment, on the south facet of the River Thames.
A whole bunch of individuals started arriving from 1pm, many holding Palestine flags and banners, some studying “Free Palestine” and “No to Israeli occupation”.
Photos of Iran’s late chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been additionally held up, some accompanied by the message “Select the fitting facet of historical past”.
Chants of “from the river to the ocean” and “Israel is a terror state” may very well be heard.
Within the wake of the Bondi Seashore terror assault, chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis stated “from the river to the ocean” and related slogans “incite hatred” towards Jews.
The annual Al Quds Day demonstration in London had drawn criticism over obvious backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed assist for the nation’s late chief.
Protesters took half within the annual Al Quds rally right this moment (Picture: PA)
A crowd of counter-protesters had been seen on the alternative facet of the Thames throughout an illustration organised by Cease The Hate. The group was allowed to assemble on Millbank, the north facet of the River Thames.
They waved Israeli flags whereas one signal learn “Hamas is terrorist”.
Police vans had been parked alongside the highway and on close by Lambeth Bridge, and two police boats had been seen on the River Thames.
It’s considered the primary time that Scotland Yard has used the river as a bodily barrier to maintain a large-scale protest and counter-protest aside.
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All protests and counter-protests needed to happen between Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges, and had been permitted between 1pm and 3pm, the Metropolitan Police stated.
Al Quds Day is known as after the Arabic identify for Jerusalem and is normally held on the final Friday of Ramadan.
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