Met Police says ‘intense debate’ ahead of Armistice Day protests ‘increased community tensions’ and led to day of chaos with more than 100 arrests – after Suella Braverman hit out at ‘hate marches’ and accused Scotland Yard of bias
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The Metropolitan Police has said ‘intense debate about protest and policing’ helped ‘increase community tensions’ before the chaos at Armistice Day yesterday which saw more than 100 arrests.
Pressure is mounting on Suella Braverman amid scenes of far-right violence towards officers on Saturday, after she branded pro-Palestinian demonstrators ‘hate marchers’ and accused the police of bias for letting the rally go ahead.
Nine officers were injured as they prevented a crowd of mainly football hooligans reaching the Cenotaph, with Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist calling their ‘extreme violence’ towards the police ‘extraordinary and deeply concerning’.
‘A week of intense debate about protest and policing’ helped ‘increase community tensions’, he said.
Sir Keir Starmer said few public figures ‘have done more recently to whip up division’ than Mrs Braverman. But former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith defended the Home Secretary and said it was ‘pathetic’ to seek to blame her for the violence.
Rishi Sunak last night condemned as ‘despicable’ both ‘EDL thugs’ who attacked police officers and pro-Palestinian protesters pictured openly supporting Hamas following a day of chaos in central London.
The Metropolitan Police said 126 arrests have been made so far, the ‘vast majority’ far-right football hooligans who pelted officers with bottles, cans and metal fences after gathering to ‘protect the Cenotaph’ in Whitehall. Nine officers were injured.
While the pro-Palestinian march did not see this level of violence it was once again marred by numerous incidents of vile antisemitism, with one marcher holding a sign showing a Jewish Star of David wrapped around a Nazi swastika.
Police clash with far-right counter-protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
Rishi Sunak has come under pressure to sack Suella Braverman following ugly scenes on Armistice Day
Sir Keir said her and the Prime Minister’s treatment of the police and protesters showed a ‘lack of respect for this country’s values and its principles’
The Met Police are hunting two pro-Palestinian protesters who were seen wearing Hamas headbands
They are also searching for a man with a sign saying ‘welcome to Gaza, twinned with Auschwitz’; and a woman holding a racist banner depicting Mr Sunak and Suella Braverman as ‘coconuts’
He said the actions ‘do not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them’
Police are hunting two men seen wearing headbands supporting Hamas; a man with a sign saying ‘welcome to Gaza, twinned with Auschwitz’; and a woman with a racist banner depicting Mr Sunak and Suella Braverman as ‘coconuts’.
Meanwhile, officers stopped and searched a group of around 150 pro-Palestine protesters who had broken off from the main demonstration and were letting off fireworks – some of which struck officers in the face. Police said there were 300,000 people on the main march but organisers put the figure at ‘more than 800,000’.
The Prime Minister said the ugly scenes on Armistice Day ‘utterly disrespects’ the spirit of remembrance. He said he would meet Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to hold him ‘accountable’ for dealing with the disturbances.
Pictures showed rival groups of demonstrators clashing in Trafalgar Square, with one counter-protester seen wielding a stick – as Michael Gove was hassled by pro-Palestinians shouting ‘shame on you’ as he tried to leave Victoria station.
Mr Sunak said in a statement: ‘I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL (English Defence League) and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine. The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully.’
He said their actions do ‘not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them’, adding: ‘That is true for EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest.’
Mr Sunak said he would be meeting the Met chief, adding: ‘All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law.
READ MORE – Pro-Palestinian protesters say ‘more than 800,000’ marched to US Embassy
‘That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect.’
Mr Sunak has so far maintained confidence in his Home Secretary, even after a week in which ministers distanced themselves from her claims homelessness is a ‘lifestyle choice’.
There has been speculation that the Prime Minister will carry out a ministerial reshuffle, which could see Mrs Braverman moved, but not before next week’s Supreme Court ruling on the Rwanda deportation policy championed by her.
But her incendiary language on ‘pro-Palestinian mobs’ has angered many, including within the Tory party, with demands for her to go increasing.
In a comment piece in the Sunday Telegraph, Sir Keir wrote: ‘The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister’s treatment of the police and protestors alike this week – coming just a few days after she shamefully described homelessness as ‘a lifestyle choice’ – betray a total lack of respect for this country’s values and its principles.
‘Few people in public life have done more recently to whip up division, set the British people against one another and sow the seeds of hatred and distrust than Suella Braverman. In doing so, she demeans her office.’
Sir Keir said some among the pro-Palestinian demonstrators incited violence, glorified Hamas or called for Israel’s destruction and ‘should be dealt with firmly by the law’.
But he said blanket calls to cancel the rallies and Government attempts to brand protesters they do not agree with as extremists are ‘a sign of ministers’ cowardice’.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘Suella Braverman was warned repeatedly of the dangers of inflaming tensions and undermining the police.
‘A Home Secretary that doesn’t take seriously the security of our streets is only allowed to remain in a government that has lost all sense of governing. Britain is better than Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ‘The far right have clearly been encouraged and emboldened by what they have heard this week, including from senior politicians like the Home Secretary’.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf earlier called for Mrs Braverman to resign.
The SNP leader tweeted: ‘The far right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the police on Armistice Day.
‘The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.’
A man holding a stick was pictured among a group of counter-protesters in Trafalgar Square yesterday evening
There were clashes throughout the day after hundreds of far-right thugs gathered in Whitehall to ‘protect the Cenotaph’
Clashes take place between counter-protesters (left) and pro-Palestinians (right) in Trafalgar Square
In this photo counter-protesters are seen on the left and pro-Palestinians on the right
Police arrest a man outside The Silver Cross pub on Whitehall on a day of chaos in central London yesterday
A line of police officers on patrol in Parliament Square after darkness fell yesterday
Met officers have previously been injured by pro-Palestinian letting off fireworks
People set off fireworks during the main pro-Palestinian march in London yesterday evening
Officers stopped a breakaway group of around 150 pro-Palestine protesters who were letting off fireworks. They used their Section 60 powers to search them
Michael Gove was hassled by pro-Palestine protesters as he tried to leave Victoria station
Hope Not Hate echoed the demand, with the campaign group’s chief executive Nick Lowles saying the Home Secretary has ‘inflamed tensions and, as we have seen today, whipped up the far right into a violent frenzy. She’s got to go’.
But Mrs Braverman has supporters on the right of the party and any move against her by Mr Sunak could deepen divisions within Tory ranks.
Conservative former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith defended the Home Secretary, saying: ‘I’ve heard some daft takes, but to try and justify this appalling behaviour by blaming an op-ed in The Times, which simply stated the flaming obvious, is pathetic.’
Tory backbencher Danny Kruger said: ‘You know what, with the benefit of hindsight, maybe it would have been best if the march today hadn’t been allowed to go ahead.’
Mrs Braverman rowed back her language on the eve of Armistice Day, giving police her ‘full backing’ at a meeting with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
It came after her article in The Times, in which she claimed officers ‘play favourites’ towards pro-Palestinian protesters, was disowned by Downing Street and provoked fury among Tory MPs.
READ MORE: Palestine protests LIVE – chaos in London as demonstrations also take place in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh and Paris
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said nine officers were injured during the day, two requiring hospital treatment with a fractured elbow and a suspected dislocated hip.
The force said the injuries took place on Whitehall after the officers were attacked with ‘extreme violence’ by counter-demonstrators, who were ‘were largely football hooligans from across the UK’.
Many of the thugs were stopped and searched and weapons including a knife, a baton and knuckleduster were found as well as class A drugs.
Mr Twist continued: ‘While the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march did not see the sort of physical violence carried out by the right wing, we know that for London’s Jewish communities whose fears and concerns we absolutely recognise, the impact of hate crime and in particular anti-Semitic offences is just as significant.
‘At the end of the PSC march, we once again saw breakaway groups behaving in an intimidating manner.
‘Officers intercepted a group of 150 who were wearing face coverings and firing fireworks. Arrests were made after some of the fireworks struck officers in the face.
‘There were also a number of serious offences identified in relation to hate crime and possible support for proscribed organisations during the protest that we are actively investigating.’
Boris Johnson condemned the antisemitism displayed by some marchers.
‘Almost 80 years after the end of the Second World War it is shocking to hear nakedly anti-Semitic chants on the streets of London today,’ he wrote.
‘There are people who plainly want to ignore the Hamas massacre of October 7. They want to wipe Israel off the map. That is what they were chanting for today.
‘They must not and will not succeed. I thank the police for all their efforts to keep people safe – but we must all do more, because an ancient hatred is rising again in Europe. It must be stamped out.’
A police officer separates a group of men as bottles are thrown near the Thames embankment
A police officer wields a truncheon at a man as he runs towards a metal fence
A counter-protester wearing a balaclava throws a can of beer at a police officer
Counter-protesters confront a line of police outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster
Pro-Palestinian protesters wave Palestine flags and let off flares as they march to the US embassy in Vauxhall
The Home Secretary has been criticised for calling pro-Palestinian demonstrators ‘hate marchers’ and accusing the police of bias for letting the rally go ahead.
Meanwhile, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is ‘failing’ Britain’s Jews and has ‘serious questions to answer’ about why the march was allowed to take place.
The group condemned those ‘shouting genocidal chants’, ‘wearing Hamas headbands’ and ‘holding signs comparing Israel to Nazis or prominent minority politicians to coconuts’.
In a statement, the CAA added: ‘This march should never have been allowed to go ahead, and Sir Mark Rowley has serious questions to answer. Perhaps he should do so to Britain’s Jews, whom he is failing.’
READ MORE – Woman with small child is taken away by police after they discovered a sign claiming Israel’s actions in Gaza are ‘worse than the Nazis’
A total of 82 people who police said were part of ‘large group’ of counter-protesters who had ‘tried to reach the main protest march’ were arrested in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico.
Reports suggested that some people were detained and prevented from leaving the nearby White Swan pub with a heavy police presence outside, including officers on horseback.
Tense scenes erupted outside a second pub, The Duke of York in Victoria Street, as swarms of officers were filmed closing in on a large group of counter-protestors gathered outside.
Counter-protesters had earlier clashed with police near the Cenotaph, ahead of a service to mark Armistice Day.
Shocking video shows the hooligans – led by Tommy Robinson – throwing bottles and metal barriers at police.
Scuffles broke out as police attempted to stop a crowd of people carrying St George’s flags marching along Embankment towards Whitehall, where the Cenotaph is located, shortly after 10am.
The group, which had been chanting ‘England ’til I die’, pushed through the police barrier, with some shouting ‘let’s have them’ as officers hit out with batons.
Robinson led protesters to Chinatown, where he jumped into a taxi and left.
Further clashes with police then took place, with counter-protesters chanting ‘you’re not English any more’ towards officers.
READ MORE – Met Police surround pubs and order hooligans participating to the Pro-Palestine protest not to leave
A group of about 100 people were later held near Westminster Bridge under police powers to prevent a disturbance.
An Armistice Day service took place at the Cenotaph on Whitehall at 11am, which passed off peacefully with a two-minute silence being observed.
The main pro-Palestinian march began dispersing from Nine Elms at 5pm. Police are hunting several people pictured with pro-Hamas slogans. Organisers say 800,000 attended.
Last night, a group of seven thugs were witnessed by a MailOnline reporter trying to attack a lone pro-Palestinian protester after boarding a Circle Line train at Westminster.
The group immediately targeted the man, who was on his own, asking him if he supported Hamas before becoming aggressive and shouting that he was a ‘paedophile’ and ‘agreed with underage sex’.
As multiple female passengers attempted to intervene and film the encounter, several of the men began verbally abusing them also, continuing to shout ‘paedophile’.
Matters escalated when the men, who were concealing their faces, attempted to punch their original victim and a scuffle broke out. Passengers pulled the emergency alarm and several phoned the police.
Clashes then took place between the protesters and police in Westminster, with images showing one of the men grabbing a riot helmet from an officer and holding it aloft triumphantly.
A police officer in riot gear pushes back a man who snatched a pro-Palestinian placard from a woman
The man is grabbed by the police officer following the incident in central London
A police officer faces off against a group of counter-protesters near the ‘National March For Palestine’
Police officers detain a man in the street close to the ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London
Earlier, hundreds of yobs claiming they wanted to ‘protect the Cenotaph’ clashed with officers in Whitehall
Last night, a group of seven thugs were witnessed by a MailOnline reporter trying to attack a lone pro-Palestinian protester after boarding a Circle Line train at Westminster
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Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said that hundreds of counter-protest demonstrators had arrived yesterday and ‘seemed intent on confrontation and intent on violence’.
He said: ‘There are a number of groups within this counter-protest who are split off and seem intent on seeking confrontation with the main Palestinian march and the policing operation at the moment is being effective in preventing that happening.’
READ MORE: Emotional King Charles unveils new statues of his late parents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Mr Twist said the main march involved tens of thousands of people and added: ‘This is the biggest march that we’ve seen in this phase and at the moment there are no issues with it.
‘It’s being closely monitored by police and also we have police looking out for any troublemakers that might be intent on causing disruption or seeking a confrontation with people on that main march.’
Clashes then took place between the protesters and police in Westminster, with images showing one of the men grabbing a riot helmet from an officer and holding it aloft triumphantly.
Mr Twist said that hundreds of counter-protest demonstrators had arrived yesterday and ‘seemed intent on confrontation and intent on violence’.
He said: ‘There are a number of groups within this counter-protest who are split off and seem intent on seeking confrontation with the main Palestinian march and the policing operation at the moment is being effective in preventing that happening.’
A counter-protester is detained by police in Parliament Square in central London
Police block counter-protesters in central London yesterday during a pro-Palestinian march
Officers arrest a counter-protester in Parliament Square during pro-Palestine marches
Right-wing protesters clash with police officers near Parliament Square on Saturday
A counter-protester swipes at a riot police officer in Parliament Square
Police officers prevented people from leaving the White Swan pub (pictured) on Vauxhall Bridge Road so they did not ’cause aggro’
Men hold cans of beer and shout at police officers as they are encircled in order to prevent further violence
A right-wing protester is seen appearing to assault a pro-Palestine protester as a second attempts of intervene
A pro-Palestinian supporter clashes with a right-wing protester in London
Mr Twist said the main march involved tens of thousands of people and added: ‘This is the biggest march that we’ve seen in this phase and at the moment there are no issues with it.
‘It’s being closely monitored by police and also we have police looking out for any troublemakers that might be intent on causing disruption or seeking a confrontation with people on that main march.’
The Met said it was ‘actively seeking’ two men pictured on the march wearing headbands of the terrorist group Hamas over their balaclava and scarf-covered faces.
The force posted on X: ‘Officers are actively looking for these individuals and will take proactive action when they are identified.’
Also spotted in the crowds were signs with the slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ which the Home Secretary said has become ‘a staple of antisemitic discourse’.
Another sign carried during the march shows the Jewish Star of David wrapped around a Nazi swastika with the slogan: ‘No British politician should be a ‘friend of Israel’.’
Others on the march had effigies of dead babies to highlight their demands for a ceasefire.
A Palestinian flag was also wrapped around a First World War memorial near London’s Wellington Arch, with protesters later seen climbing the statue.
Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove was seen in footage being mobbed by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Victoria station, who chanted ‘shame on you’.
Other politicians condemned the crowding of Mr Gove, with SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn saying: ‘Those acting in this fashion damage their cause.’
London Mayor Mr Khan criticised attempts to ‘intimidate politicians’ as ‘unacceptable’.
Tussles broke out as police officers vowed to use all available means to keep right-wing protesters separate from the pro-Palestine march
At least four people have been arrested yesterday as part of the protests
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and his supporters were heard chanting as they overwhelmed police outside the Met’s HQ and flooded onto Whitehall – just minutes before 11am
Police officers arrest a man on Parliament Square after the two-minute silence for Armistice Day
Police officers chase groups of right-wing protesters through streets close to the ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London
A police officer chases a man through the streets of London as part of the Met’s operation on Saturday
Riot police clash with Tommy Robinson supporters in Chinatown in London
Right-wing protesters scuffle with police in London’s Chinatown after the two minutes silence
A statement from the Met Police said officers had been targeted by protesters throwing ‘missiles and a metal barrier’
A right-wing protester gestures as police officers keeps the group separate from pro-Palestine protesters
Robinson arrived in Whitehall early on Saturday morning along with hundreds of right-wing protesters
Police officers monitor protesters gathering with placards and flags for the ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London yesterday
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said Mrs Braverman had encouraged them with her inflammatory rhetoric.
An engineer who attended the pro-Palestinian marches in Park Lane, Westminster, described the protests as being ‘no better way’ to honour Armistice Day.
READ MORE – Michael Gove is mobbed by pro-Palestine supporters chanting ‘shame on you’ as he walks through Victoria
Inayat Bunglawala, 54, from Luton, said the marches were appropriate, despite some being against the demonstration taking place on the same day as Armistice.
Speaking amidst the crowds on Bressenden Place, Mr Bunglawala told the PA news agency: ‘Armistice Day is meant to commemorate the end of the First World War and the ceasefire that came along with it to end the bloodshed. I think there is no better way to honour Armistice Day than to call for an end to the current bloodshed in Gaza.’
The network engineer described the crowds as ‘colossal’ and said people were ‘deeply respectful of Armistice Day’, despite the marches being described as a ‘hate march’ by Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
‘I saw a colossal crowd coming out with ordinary members of the public and families,’ he said.
‘I’m really happy that a huge crowd has come out. Despite all the intimidatory rhetoric from the Home Secretary, the Prime Minister, other ministers… People have still come out to exercise their democratic rights.’
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said that hundreds of counter-protest demonstrators had arrived yesterday and ‘seemed intent on confrontation and intent on violence’
A man lies on the ground after allegedly being assaulted while attending a pro-Palestine protest
A right-wing protester is detained by police officers in central London
Police have made more than 90 arrests of protesters involved in right-wing demonstrations on Saturday
Stewards for the pro-Palestine protest attempt to separate marchers from far-right activists
Several hundred protesters, almost all of them men, were heard chanting and attempting to get close to the Cenotaph
A man is arrested by police in Whitehall after protests yesterday
Many of the thugs wore masks and balaclavas to conceal their faces
A group of right-wing protesters gather on Whitehall ahead of a large pro Palestine demonstration in Central London
Police units kept watch over the far-right mob throughout the afternoon to make sure they did not attempt to travel across London to the pro Palestine March headed from Hyde Park to the US Embassy in Battersea.
Shortly before the incident, far-right thug Tommy Robinson left the scene in a taxi after earlier leading hundreds of people as they massed at barriers in Whitehall.
As chants echoed around the area police reinforcements raced to contain the mob as they jostled to be allowed to join the large crowds gathered at The Cenotaph.
Dozens of officers formed a human barrier to stop them entering the exclusion zone set up ahead of the Armistice Day ceremony, but protesters eventually broke through.
The large crowd of people bearing St George’s flags was seen walking along Embankment and shouting ‘England till I die’.
Two police officers detain a man in central London close to the pro-Palestine march following clashes with right-wing demonstrators
Supporters of Tommy Robinson amass near to the Cenotaph ahead of the two-minute silence
Riot police officers walk at The Mall as pro-Palestine activists march through London yesterday
A police officer struggled with a right-wing protester close to the main pro-Palestine march
Demonstrators clash with police in Chinatown as tensions flare on Armistice Day
Aerial view showing pro-Palestine protests in Central London yesterday at 12.21pm
People march in Hyde Park to support Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza
A line of police attempted to stop them from reaching Whitehall but the group pushed through, with some shouting ‘let’s have them’ as officers hit out with batons.
Military veterans appeared displeased and looked on in disgust as hundreds of people taunted police and shouted out ‘we want our country back’. Some of the mob climbed on a statue to Field Marshall Montgomery outside the Ministry of Defence building.
Pictures showed Tommy Robinson speaking with several police officers. Police equipped with riot helmets kept watch on the group who waved Union Jack and cross of St George flags during the two-minute silence.
As a bugler signalled the end of the silence applause followed by chants of ‘England’ erupted from a section of the crowd. This ended as the wreath laying ceremony began.
Before the ceremony had ended many of the far right supporters had left and walked towards Trafalgar Square. Later Veterans spoke of their anger and disgust at their attendance on the solemn occasion.
Tommy Robinson with his supporters in London’s Chinatown ahead of a pro-Palestinian protest march
Protesters shove their way through a human barrier of police officers as they demanded to be allowed access to the Cenotaph
Police officers take their places around Whitehall ahead of the two-minute silence
Some protesters through bottles towards police officers as they forced their way through barriers
Protesters chanted ‘England till I die’ and ‘You’re not English anymore’ at police officers
Pictures showed Tommy Robinson speaking with several police officers at Whitehall
Flag waving protesters join the crowds waiting to view the two minute’s silence near to the Cenotaph on Whitehall
Right-wing protesters unfurled banners criticising the pro-Palestine march during the two-minutes silence despite the fact that no pro-Palestinian protesters could be seen
Former army sergeant James Fillery said: ‘I am glad that they didn’t disrupt the silence. That would have been so disrespectful.
‘I think many of them thought this was some kind of football match with all their chants. I just thought they were idiots, and I doubt they would have had the guts to serve their country.’
A former military policeman, who gave his name as Rick, said: ‘They are not people. I’m here to pay tribute and remember those who sacrificed their life so that they could be here. It is always a very emotional day, and I just want to focus on the act of remembrance.
Steve Hartshorn, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales – which represents rank and file officers, said: ‘Today’s events have spotlighted policing throughout a challenging, volatile, situation.
‘The amount of operational planning leading up to the event, and the hard work of highly skilled, public order-trained police officers on the front line, making decisions in the face of unpredictability, truly is impressive.
‘We will continue to support all members before, during and after delivering policing operations, including ensuring they have access to the best equipment, conditions and remuneration as they carry out this immensely physically demanding work, working incredibly long shifts, to keep the public as safe as possible.’
Officers walk close to Whitehall as they monitor the arrival of several hundred protesters let by Tommy Robinson
Police officers attempted to form a human wall to prevent Robinson and his supporters from reaching the Cenotaph
Early on Saturday leaflets claiming that terror group Hamas are a ‘resistance’ movement could be bought by pro-Palestinian protesters in London
A sign is seen on the top deck of a London bus carrying the controversial slogan: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’
Police officers were standing guard at the Cenotaph early on Saturday
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