Two men have been arrested at a pro-Palestine march, one for holding a placard with a swastika on it and another for an alleged racist remark towards counter-protesters, police said.
Thousands gathered for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) demonstration in London on today to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
There was also a static demonstration organised by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough which took place at the same time along the route of the pro-Palestine march.
At just before 1pm, Scotland Yard said officers arrested a man holding a placard with a swastika on it at Parliament Square, where the PSC march set off from.
Protests took place at Hyde Park today (file pic)
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It later said another man was taken into custody for shouting a “racist remark” towards Enough is Enough protesters who were on Pall Mall.
A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said on social media: “A few minutes ago (officers) spotted a man in the crowd at Parliament Square with a placard with a swastika on. He is now under arrest and on his way to custody.
It later said: “Officers have arrested a man who shouted a racist remark towards those in the Enough Is Enough protest. He is on his way to custody.”
The event is the 13th national protest organised by the PSC since their first protest on 9th October, in addition to a number of local protests. The main protests have ranged in size from 300,000 at the highest point, to around 5-10,000 in recent months.
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Two arrests have been made in central London today
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Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who is responsible for public order policing, said: “Our objectives this weekend are to police without fear or favour, to protect the right to protest and to keep the peace. All Londoners have a right to have their voices heard, just as they also have a right to go about their lives without fear and without being subject to serious disruption.
“The cumulative impact of almost seven months of protest is felt widely, but it has been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities.
“While there has been a Jewish presence on many of the PSC marches, there are many more Jewish people who do not travel into the centre of London on protest days, or who avoid the tube, hide their identities or otherwise change their behaviour. It is a reality that should concern us all.
“I know there are people who feel the solution is to see these protests banned. The bar for such a decision is incredibly high – it requires a risk of serious public disorder of the sort we simply haven’t seen either in this period of protest or for several years.
He continued: “But while we cannot apply for protests to be banned in the current circumstances, we can use powers under the Public Order Act and other legislation to impose conditions on marches and assemblies in an effort to prevent serious disruption, to keep those with opposing views apart and to ensure wider public safety.”
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