There is a heavy police presence in central London after a pro-Palestine march and counter-protest have been held within the midst of Christmas procuring and Winter Wonderland festivities.
Bemused Christmas buyers took photographs because the streets round Piccadilly Circus in central London have been flooded with pro-Palestine demonstrators.
Counter-protesters from Stop the Hate gathered on Coventry Street close to Piccadilly Circus, on the route of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march, to induce the marchers to “stop supporting terror”.
The pro-Palestine protesters and counter demonstrators hurled abuse at one another as they met at Coventry Street, however the two teams have been saved aside by steel obstacles and a line of cops.
Before the demonstrations, the Metropolitan Police warned that expressing help for Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanese militants Hezbollah is a felony offence, as a result of each are proscribed terror organisations.
Offences embody chanting slogans, carrying clothes and displaying articles resembling flags, indicators or logos that specific help for these teams.
The pro-Palestine march was additionally blocked at Piccadilly Circus when a bunch of males holding a banner bumped into the center of the highway.
They have been pushed out of the best way by police after a short wrestle.
However, the Met posted on X later within the afternoon that the PSC march had “passed the Stop The Hate counter-protest without incident”.
Scotland Yard stated they count on it to be one of many busiest procuring weekends earlier than Christmas. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland can also be being held close by.
PSC speeches befell in Whitehall and the meeting was ordered end by 4.30pm – with the Met Police confirming protesters had now dispersed.
The group, which has been on the forefront of organising pro-Palestine marches throughout the nation, is demanding an finish to “British complicity in Israel’s genocide and apartheid” of Gaza.
The demonstration follows the settlement on Tuesday evening of a 60-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed militants Hezbollah to droop hostilities, with each side withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and Hamas’s army chief, accusing them of crimes towards humanity in reference to the battle in Gaza.
The UK would respect the method set out below home laws in relation to the arrest warrant, Downing Street stated.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1983001/london-chaos-pro-palestine-protestors-clash-christmas-shoppers