43 arrested in London as police separate opposing demonstrations
Forty-three people were arrested during a large public order operation in central London involving more than 4,000 officers. The operation created a "sterile zone" between a rally by Islamophobic activist Tommy Robinson and a pro-Palestinian Nakba protest.
Forty-three people were arrested on Saturday during a large public order operation in central London involving more than 4,000 officers, the Metropolitan Police said. The operation was designed to create a "sterile zone" between two opposing demonstrations: a rally organized by Islamophobic activist Tommy Robinson and a pro-Palestinian protest commemorating the Nakba.
Arrest breakdown
According to the police, 20 of those arrested were linked to the "Unite the Kingdom" protest, 12 to the "Nakba" protest, and 11 were either unrelated to either group or could not be identified. The police said 11 of the arrests related to hate crime offenses, including alleged motivation by race, religion, sexuality, and disability.
Hate crime investigations
A further seven hate crime-related offenses remain under investigation, with outstanding suspects. The Metropolitan Police said these cases are all linked to the Nakba protest. Three of the arrests were made using live facial recognition technology, with individuals wanted for failing to appear at court. The force said none were connected to either protest.
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Context
The Nakba ("catastrophe") refers to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the establishment of Israel in 1948. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
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