Five people were arrested during a demonstration held outside the Board of Deputies of British Jews’ office in London this morning.
The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were linked to alleged chanting and shouting of slogans calling for an intifada at the “spontaneous” protest in Camden, held on the third anniversary of the October 7 atrocity.
Although that protest has since dispersed, tensions continued to rise several hours later when students were heard shouting pro-Palestinian slogans at a separate rally.
About 100 demonstrators assembled at Lincoln’s Inn Fields shortly before noon, where some repeatedly chanted: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
One group towards the rear of the march carried a banner stating: “Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide.”
The gathering came after police warned protesters the previous day not to cover their faces. However, several demonstrators appeared to disregard the restriction.
Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters exchanged angry words, with Israeli demonstrators heard shouting: “You just love terror,” followed by insults including “scum” and “terrorist supporters off our streets.”
Several protesters were photographed wearing protective face coverings, despite a police restriction on masks that conceal a person’s identity.
A counter-protester draped in an Israeli flag confronts pro-Palestinian demonstrators heading towards Russell Square.
Counter-protesters moved through Russell Square’s gardens after being prevented from following the pro-Palestinian march.
They gathered behind the garden gates, chanting: “Shame on you.”
Police closed the garden exit nearest to the area where the pro-Palestinian demonstrators had assembled.
Dozens of officers were deployed to police the rally, with the demonstration causing significant disruption on nearby roads.
Watching from Southampton Row, Mark Rose said: “Half of them don’t even know which river they are talking about.”
Mr Rose, 55, was travelling to work in Hatton Garden when he added: “I think they should be swept off the streets and banned for good.”
“They are supporting a terrorist organisation. It is a celebration of mass murder, rape and torture.
“I have watched some of the footage from October 7 and it was horrific. I bet none of them have ever seen it.”
“I would show it on an IMAX screen and lock the doors to see who was the first to be sick.”
A smaller group of pro-Palestinian protesters who stayed near the Russell Square gardens were surrounded by counter-demonstrators shouting “scum”.
Officers attempted to open a route for the group to leave, directing them towards the British Museum.
Demonstrators were set to march from King’s College London in the Strand to University College London in Russell Square, Holborn.
New rules imposed by the Met required the group to gather in a specific area, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, by 12.30pm and take a prescribed route to Russell Square. The rally must finish by 2pm, when protesters must disperse.
Those taking part have been warned by police that they face being arrested if they break any of the ‘stringent’ restrictions.
It includes a ban on wearing a face covering that hides their identity.
A counter-protest is also taking place by Stop the Hate, which also must end by 2pm. They have been told they must gather near Russell Square House, away from the pro-Palestine protesters.
King’s College London said yesterday it would be closing the Strand-facing entrances at three of its buildings ‘for the safety and wellbeing of our students’.
It follows calls for police to go further and seek a ban on the protest, after officers vowed to take a ‘robust’ stance on the ‘day of mourning and a day of reflection’.
The demonstration has been advertised on social media by student activists, who say they intend to ‘take to the street’ to ‘demand an end to the Palestinian genocide’.
It will come on the third anniversary of the atrocity in which Hamas militants murdered more than 1,200 civilians and took 251 hostages.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman, who leads Met Operations including public order policing, said: ‘This event is being held on the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the start of the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
‘This will be a day of mourning and reflection for many in London and we know the serious concerns that this event has caused Jewish communities in particular.
‘We have imposed stringent conditions on those taking part in this march. These will help us manage the event and minimise serious disruption.
Police with counter-protesters in Russell Square. Officers blocked the garden exit closest to where the pro-Palestine protesters were gathered
A counter-protester draped in an Israeli flag is pictured today in Russell Square
Police officers look at a document which details the restrictions which are being imposed on the rally
A protester wearing a keffiyeh holds a placard making reference to the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war when about 750,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from the homes
Pro-Palestine protesters shelter under umbrellas as they take part in a march on the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel
Protesters carrying umbrellas were flanked by officers as they marched towards Russell Square
‘Anyone who breaches these conditions or commits offences should be under no illusion they will face arrest. We have zero tolerance for hate crime and those who chant or display placards calling for intifada or encourage unlawful extremism will be arrested.’
Mr Harman previously asked the estimated 300 students planning to march to ‘reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant day, and exercise your right to protest on a different date’.
The plans were also condemned by Jewish organisations and senior politicians.
Mr Harman said the march, along with another pro-Palestinian protest planned for Saturday, October 10, and possible disorder ahead of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election next week, has the potential ‘to fuel further tensions’ in London.
The Met said they are ‘making every effort’ through universities and others to identify organisers of the shadowy University of London Coalition, who are responsible for advertising the event.
Mr Harman added today: ‘We hear the calls for this event to be banned. The police cannot ban protests and can only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can’t be managed by conditions. That high bar is not met here.
‘Comments on social media that we banned other protests, such as a UKIP march in Tower Hamlets, are incorrect.
‘We have been asked whether the student march is illegal, as under Section 11 of the Public Order Act organisers must provide a name and address to police.
‘While we can identify the groups involved in organising the protest from their social media posts, we have not yet identified any specific individual prepared to accept that they are the organiser of this demonstration.
‘Under the law, the failure of an organiser to identify themselves does not mean that the specific legal criteria for a ban of a procession is met.
‘Once we have identified the organisers, we can consider offences under Section 11.
‘I would like to take this opportunity – again – to call on anyone intending to join this march to please reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant date, and exercise your right to protest on a different day.’
Education Secretary Lucy Powell previously said: ‘We certainly shouldn’t be doing anything other than marking those attacks on October 7 with deep mourning for those who lost their lives and those who were victims of that terrible Hamas attack.’
