Four arrests made by police at London pro-Palestine protest

One person was charged by police with terrorism-related offences

Author: Rory GannonPublished 31st Mar 2024

Metropolitan Police officers have arrested four people following a pro-Palestine protest in London on Saturday (March 30th).

Over 200,000 people took to the streets of the capital on Saturday for a weekly protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with demonstrators walking from Russell Square to Trafalgar Square.

Officers for the Metropolitan Police have now confirmed that they have arrested four people during the course of the protests.

Three arrests were made during the protest itself, with one being arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public offence, whilst two others were arrested on suspicion of causing harassment, alarm and distress.

In addition to this, one extra man was arrested on the Strand in relation to what the Metropolitan Police described as "inviting support for a proscribed organisation".

As well as the pro-Palestine demonstration, Met Police offices also policed a pro-Israel counter-protest, which also took place in central London.

The protest also featured speeches from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as Netflix star Khalid Abdalla, among others.

Corbyn, who still serves as the MP for Islington North, criticised the UK government's handling of the situation, also hitting out at the "grisly, ghastly arms trade with Israel".

He also took aim at other world leaders, including American President Joe Biden for his role in allowing the conflict continue.

"And when (US) President Biden announces that he wants more aid to go into Gaza, well, President Biden, it's your planes that are bombing the aid when it arrives in Gaza," Jeremy continued.

"It is your military support that is causing so much of the problems."

During speeches, the crowd of demonstrators became restless, with many initiating chants that rang out across Trafalgar Square.

The protest took place on the anniversary of Land Day, which organisers from the protest said commemorates the events taking place on March 30th, 1976 - which saw six Palestinians killed whilst protesting Israeli land policies.

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